Home-opening weekend didn’t go as planned for the University of the Fraser Valley soccer teams, as the visitors won all four games at Bateman Park.
The Cascades women, ranked sixth in the nation going in, dropped a 2-1 decision to the Saskatchewan Huskies on Saturday and fell 3-1 to Alberta on Sunday.
After a scoreless first half on Saturday, UFV’s Megan Webster opened the scoring in the 65th minute. But the Huskies rallied to knot the score on Megan Schenher’s top-corner strike from 30 yards out, and Elizabeth Hudon scored the winner in the final minute of regulation.
On Sunday, the No. 3-ranked Pandas jumped out to a 2-0 lead at the half, before Webster’s second goal of the weekend got the Cascades to within one. Alberta’s Amanda Black got the insurance marker in the late going, as the UFV women fell to 2-2 on the season.
In men’s action, Saskatchewan striker Jerson Brandica-Hamilton lit up the Cascades for three goals in the first half on Saturday, powering the Huskies to a 4-1 win. Sasa Plavsic, in the 49th minute, notched the lone UFV goal.
The Cascades came with a better effort against Alberta on Sunday, and Plavsic’s goal in the 25th minute staked the hosts to a 1-0 lead. But the Golden Bears battled back for a 2-1 win on goals by Kellen Stenger and Milan Timotijevic. UFV fell to 1-3 on the season.
The Cascades soccer teams hit the road this weekend to face the Calgary Dinos on Saturday and the Lethbridge Pronghorns on Sunday.
