Grayson B. Leahy, Heat Sports Information

KELOWNA, B.C. - The UBC Okanagan Heat men's soccer team was victorious on home turf Saturday afternoon, defeating the visiting Trinity Western Spartans by a final score of 1-0. The only goal of the match was netted halfway through the second half, on a long ball affected by the windy weather in Kelowna.

With both teams on a shutout streak, Trinity Western not having given up a goal in 257 minutes and UBCO holding their opponents at bay for the last 249 minutes there was no surprise at the defensive intensity in the match that got progressively more aggressive, right up to the final whistle.

With the win the Heat move to (4-3-1) on the season. While the Spartans, now at (5-3-3), still have more points than UBC Okanagan, the Heat have two games in hand.

Scoring Play

Jeevin Kang, UBC Okanagan's third year midfielder, was the lone goal-scorer on Saturday afternoon. In the 70th minute he looked to put a cross in from about 40 yards out on the right side of the park, but the ball was affected by the rain and wind on the pitch and sailed off-course, straight past Colyn to the top-left corner of the goal.

Star Keepers

Mitch McCaw, the Canada West second star of the week, recorded his third straight shutout for the win for UBC Okanagan while the reigning Canada West first star of the week and USPORTS player of the week, Spartan keeper Sebastian Colyn, gave up his first goal in almost five and a half hours of play for the loss. Both keepers shut out both matches last weekend on Alberta trips.

In the Saturday matchup between the First and Second Stars, the two keepers faced a combined eight shots on goal. McCaw faced four on target and turned four away, while Colyn stopped three and was beaten by Jeevin Kang.

First half chances

Through a scoreless first half play was even for the most part, with both teams having chances coming off of good lead passes and strong runs from the wings. Trinity Western nearly had a goal in the 36th minute, as mid/forward Elie Gindo had an excellent finish to put the ball past Heat keeper Mitch McCaw, but the play was called offside.

Second half chances

Both sides were more aggressive in their offensive ends in the second half, taking more chances with lead passes that for the most part were either broken up by speedy defenders or called offside.

Just before Kang's goal UBCO's Corbin Beachemin just missed a cross as he sailed his header over the bar.

In the final 15 minutes of play the Spartans were all-out on the attack, earning six or seven strong chances primarily on well-placed crosses and corner kicks. Joel Waterman (77'), Jacob Low (78'), Caleb Johnson (82'), and Pedro Paz Duarte (84') all recorded shots for TWU in the latter stages. A pair of crosses sailed just over a number of Spartan heads in the final few minutes as well, and a corner from Vito Polletto in the 90th minute was just missed by a pair of Spartan attackers looking to drive one home.

Despite that concentrated attack and the number of chances, there was no breakthrough for the Spartan attack, and the final whistle blew with the home side Heat still up a goal.

What's Next:

The UBC Okanagan Heat (4-3-1) will host the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades (3-4-2)tomorrow, Sunday, October 1, with kickoff set for 39 p.m. PDT at Nonis Field. The Trinity Western Spartans (5-3-3) will also play tomorrow, as they head to Kamloops to take on the Thompson Rivers WolfPack (4-2-4) at 12 p.m. PDT