On the road for their first two games, the UBC Okanagan women kicked off the 2015 Canada West soccer season on the right foot.
Claire Paterson’s Heat travelled to Manitoba on the weekend where they earned four of a possible six points.
On Friday in Winnipeg, Michelle Smith’s header goal in the 47th minute on a free kick from Justine Drosdovech stood up as the winner in a 1-0 victory over the Manitoba Bisons.
The game was played indoors due to severe weather conditions in Winnipeg.
It was a good start to our season and we are very happy to capture three points,” head coach Claire Paterson said after the match. “I thought the team did well to adjust and stay focused with having to move the match inside at the last minute due to weather.”
Lake Country’s Joella Kobilschke made three saves for the shutout in her CIS debut for UBCO.
Another rookie, Kaylin Ferguson, was named the Heat’s player of the game.
On Saturday, Ferguson, from Pickering, ON, was at it again as the Heat earned a 1-1 draw with the Winnipeg Wesmen.
Ferguson scored her first CIS goal and was a key instigator in the offence as UBCO generated 24 shots compared to 18 by Manitoba.
Paterson “was happy with our weekend and pleased to come home with four out six points. We have now set the tone for our season as we look to build from the positive and refine some elements as we look toward the next set of games.”
The Heat women are back on the road this weekend as they travel to Prince George to take on the UNBC TImberwolves on Friday, then to Edmonton to meet the University of Alberta on Sunday.
Heat men open at home
Dante Zanatta’s men’s team kicks off its second season on Canada West play this weekend on its home turf.
On Saturday at UBCO’s Nonis Field, the Heat will take on the University of Fraser Valley Cascades.
On Sunday, the Trinity Western Spartans will provide the opposition.
Both games kick off at 2 p.m.
The Heat made the playoffs in its first ever CIS with a 5-5-2 record.
UBCO then lost to UBC in the conference quarterfinals.
