From left to right, women's soccer, men's soccer, cross country and softball are all in action this weekend to open the 2025-26 season

General 8/27/2025 12:43:00 PM Natalie Tsang

HEAT THIS WEEK: Soccer kicks off 2025 at home, cross country hosts Fast Days of Summer

Heat soccer teams set to battle Victoria and UBC on home turf while softball hits the road for opening weekend of the year

KELOWNA, B.C. - The fall season kicks off this weekend for the UBC Okanagan Heat with five teams in action. Both men's and women's soccer will host their home openers, facing the Victoria Vikes on Friday followed by a showdown with the UBC Thunderbirds on Saturday. Meanwhile, cross country will head to the trail to begin their season with the Fast Days of Summer 5000 and softball heads to Calgary to start their season with a packed schedule.

HOME
Women's Soccer
August 29th vs. Victoria Vikes - 4:30 p.m. - Nonis Sports Field
August 30th vs. UBC Thunderbirds - 4:30 p.m. - Nonis Sports Field
Webcast: CanadaWest.tv presented by BioSteel

Women's soccer's 2025 regular season takes flight with their first matchups against the Victoria Vikes and UBC Thunderbirds. Last year, the Heat battled the Vikes to two hard-fought draws, while UBC proved to be a tougher opponent during their undefeated regular season. However, the blue and gold gave the Thunderbirds their toughest tests of the year, losing a pair of one-goal games 3-2 and 1-0.

The team will lean on fifth-year veterans Abigail Taneda, Annika Gross, and Sydney Kolodziej to lead the way this season, alongside goalkeeper Talia Gagnon, who will enter her fourth season after tying her career high with nine saves against UBC last year.

Men's Soccer
August 29th vs. Victoria Vikes - 7:00 p.m. - Nonis Sports Field
August 30th vs. UBC Thunderbirds - 7:00 p.m. - Nonis Sports Field
Webcast: CanadaWest.tv presented by BioSteel

Men's soccer kicks off the 2025 season on Friday against the Vikes (0-1-1), followed by a Saturday matchup against UBC (2-0).

UBCO will showcase both new talent and veteran presence, led by fifth-years Malachi Emerson, Alex Sol, and Aidan Young. Second year Jaise Shaw will be one to watch as he aims to build on his impressive rookie debut, while Ronan Woodroffe will return for his fourth season, looking to build on his record-breaking season.

Big crowds will be expected for both games as JumpStart students will be in attendance on Friday night before first-year residence students join the party on Saturday.

Cross Country
August 31 – Fast Days of Summer 5000 - 8 a.m. - Rail Trail

The Heat begin their 2025 race season in Kelowna with the Fast Days of Summer 5000, an event where the proceeds and donations from the races support the program as they prepare for the U SPORTS Championship in early November.

This will be the first opportunity for the team to race together and for Head Coach Malindi Elmore to assess her program.

AWAY
Women's Softball
August 30th vs. Calgary Dinos - 8 a.m. (PT) - Calgary, Alta.
August 30th vs. Regina Cougars - 10 a.m. (PT) - Calgary, Alta.
August 30th vs. Saskatchewan Huskies - 2 p.m. (PT) - Calgary, Alta.
August 31st vs. Lethbridge Pronghorns - 8 a.m. (PT) - Calgary, Alta.
August 31st vs. Saskatchewan Huskies - 10 a.m. (PT) - Calgary, Alta.

Softball begins their schedule with five games this weekend in Calgary. With many new faces in the lineup, the Heat will rely on veteran leadership, including returning All-Stars Bella Green and Cheyenne Simicak, along with Taylor Roeseler, who is entering her fifth year with the team.

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Players Mentioned

#1 Talia Gagnon: GK; 6' 0"; Senior; 4th Year

#7 Sydney Kolodziej: MF; 5' 4"; Fifth Year; 5th Year

#11 Abigail Taneda: F; 5' 6"; Fifth Year; 5th Year

#24 Annika Gross: MF; 5' 4"; Fifth Year; 5th Year

#1 Ronan Woodroffe: GK; 6' 0"; Senior; 4th Year

#2 Aidan Young: D; 5' 11"; Fifth Year; 5th Year

#10 Malachi Emerson: MF; 5' 11"; Sixth Year; 5th Year

#11 Jaise Shaw: F; 6' 3"; Sophomore; 2nd Year

#13 Alex Sol: MF; 5' 11"; Sixth Year; 5th Year

#2 Bella Green: OF; 5' 4"; Senior; 4th Year

#8 Cheyenne Simicak: 3B/SS; 5' 7"; Senior; 4th Year

#33 Taylor Roeseler: P/OF; 5' 2"; Sixth Year; 5th Year

Players Mentioned

#1 Talia Gagnon
: 6' 0"; Senior; 4th Year
: GK

#7 Sydney Kolodziej
: 5' 4"; Fifth Year; 5th Year
: MF

#11 Abigail Taneda
: 5' 6"; Fifth Year; 5th Year
: F

#24 Annika Gross
: 5' 4"; Fifth Year; 5th Year
: MF

#1 Ronan Woodroffe
: 6' 0"; Senior; 4th Year
: GK

#2 Aidan Young
: 5' 11"; Fifth Year; 5th Year
: D

#10 Malachi Emerson
: 5' 11"; Sixth Year; 5th Year
: MF

#11 Jaise Shaw
: 6' 3"; Sophomore; 2nd Year
: F

#13 Alex Sol
: 5' 11"; Sixth Year; 5th Year
: MF

#2 Bella Green
: 5' 4"; Senior; 4th Year
: OF

#8 Cheyenne Simicak
: 5' 7"; Senior; 4th Year
: 3B/SS

#33 Taylor Roeseler
: 5' 2"; Sixth Year; 5th Year
: P/OF