Heat men suffer first home loss of the year, 2-0 to TRU

Heat men suffer first home loss of the year, 2-0 to TRU

Grayson Leahy, UBC Okanagan Heat

KELOWNA, BC - The UBC Okanagan Heat lost by a final score of 2-0 to the Thompson Rivers WolfPack in men's soccer competition Saturday afternoon. It was the first time the Heat were beaten on their home turf this season.

Nonis Field, cold and wet for the Thanksgiving weekend match-up, saw the visiting WolfPack shut out the home-team, thanks to a pair of first half goals, one each from Justin Donaldson and Ryan Glanville.

The first goal of the match, and second year 'Pack midfielder Justin Donaldson's 8th of the season, came early. In the 10th minute, Donaldson received a cross from first year midfielder Yuya Nakano and buried it in the bottom right corner past UBCO keeper Mitch McCaw with an impressive back-heel.

The second and final goal of the match was scored by fourth year 'Pack forward Ryan Glanville in the 33rd minute. After an initial shot on goal that resulted in a big rebound, Glanville controlled the ball after a scrum deep in the box, and put it past McCaw for his 7th goal of the season. Justin Donaldson earned his second point of the match on the goal, as he was awarded the assist.

The UBC Okanagan Heat recorded seven shots, only one of which was noted as being on goal. Jeevin Kang forced TRU keeper Claye Harsany to make his only save of the match in the 68th minute.

Ryan Glanville was named TRU's MVP for the match, and UBC Okanagan gave their MVP honours to Bret Depner.

With the result, the Heat and WolfPack trade spots in the standings. Thompson Rivers' new record of 5-6-1 (16 points) move them up to fourth place in the Pacific Division, while UBC Okanagan's record of 4-6-2 (14 points) drops them down to fifth, and out of a playoff spot.

The UBC Okanagan Heat (4-6-2) will play their next match Saturday, October 15 when they host the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades (5-5-1). The Cascades are in third place in the Pacific Division now after they beat CIS No. 4 Trinity Western (4-1) on Friday night. Those two will play again on Sunday (Oct. 9).

This will be the final regular season home stand for the young UBC Okanagan squad, who are now (3-1-1) at home with wins against Calgary, Lethbridge, and Victoria and a draw with UBC, and today's loss to TRU.

The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack (5-6-1) will play their next match October 15 as well, when they will be hosting the Trinity Western Spartans (8-3-2).