The UBC Okanagan Heat’s Kirsten Dodds had been held goal-less heading into week four of the 2013 PacWest women’s soccer season.
The third-year forward from Vernon broke out in a big way last weekend, netting three goals in two road games to help the Heat earn six much-needed points. She also collected PacWest female soccer Athlete of the Week honours.
Saturday, on a wet and rainy afternoon in Nanaimo, Dodds scored on a rebound as UBCO stuffed the Vancouver Island University Mariners 4-0.
On Sunday afternoon, Dodd collected both goals as the Heat shut out the Capilano Blues 2-0. Playing in soggy conditions, the Vernon product converted in the 57th minute as she took on a Blues’ defender one-on-one and, after setting up a teammate, she swooped in on the resulting rebound.
Dodds’ second goal was the result of some slick passing that sprung her on a breakaway. She froze the Capilano keeper before finding net.
The Heat battle the first-place Thompson Rivers WolfPack in a weekend home-and-home set starting Saturday in Kamloops.
In men’s soccer, the Heat bowed to the Blues 4-1 Sunday in North Vancouver with fourth-year midfielder Austin Jones (Vernon) clicking midway through the first half after Capilano went up 2-0.
Jones scored in the 25th minute Saturday as the Heat tied the Mariners 1-1 in Nanaimo. He is on a five-game scoring streak.
Both Jones and rookie forward Logan Abbott (Salmon Arm) enjoyed a few other good opportunities that were saved by the VIU keeper in the rain-soaked second half. The Mariners opened the offence in the second minute. The Heat are now 4-2-2 and still holding onto a playoff seed.
