Tia Sadler, UBC Okanagan Heat
KELOWNA BC - Once again the Heat men's soccer team net the game winning goal late at home, on Sunday afternoon when Tyler Shalansky scored pushing UBC Okanagan past the sixth ranked Trinity Western Spartans by a final score of (1-0) at the Nonis Sports Field.
For the first time this year the Heat offence was led by sophomore Shalansky. The first and final goal coming in the 86th minute of play was the first goal of the season for the Kelowna native.
With the competition and tensions high in today's match both teams had multiple scoring opportunities throughout the game, but a lead pass by second year Luke Warkentin allowed Shalansky to get a clear shot on bottom left of the net to allow the Heat to take their fifth win of the season.
The first half saw a relentless Spartans attack reeling off a total of seven shots on goal. The best opportunity to score for Trinity came in the 21st minute when Elijah Adekugbe, Spartans top scorer this season, was able to take a close shot from the right of the net where he was denied by UBC Okanagan keeper Mitch McCaw.
Edekugbe took a total of three shots, two on net in today's match against the Heat and was denied a second time by McCaw in the 76th minute of the game.
The Heat also saw scoring opportunities in the first half, Cole Kingzett and Jeevin Kang both with decent chances and later on in the second half Kieran Large and Corbin Beauchemin both were denied by Spartan keeper Andrew Hicks.
The Spartans in the second half saw fourth year midfielder Mitchell Urzinger in the 54th minute had a clear shot on net off of a scramble.With a close and open shot on net, McCaw was able to dive to save the shot and keep his score sheet clean.
McCaw, who earned UBCO MVP honours in the match, turned away 10 shots in the 90 minutes to claim his fifth shutout and fifth win on the season.
Edekugbe, who earned Trinity's player of the match put McCaw to the test in the 76th minute. Trinity looking take a late lead had a free kick from 25 yards out, Edekugbe's low drive was altered by the UBCO wall and McCaw was forced to extend himself far to his right and knock the shot away, in what was Trinity's last best salvo at scoring first.
Once UBC Okanagan had the lead the Spartans pressed on offense even more, an offside call in the 89th minute negated the Spartans final push as the Heat held on for the (1-0) win.
UBC Okanagan finish the year with a (4-2-1) record in Kelowna on the Nonis Field. In the four wins the Heat scored the game winner no earlier then the 87th minute. Today against Trinity (87'), on Sept. 18 versus Lethbridge (87'), Sept. 17 versus Calgary (tied it in the 89', and the winner in the 90'), and in the season opener versus Victoria on Aug. 27 the winner was scored in the 88th minute.
The Heat recorded five shots in today's and three that were on net compared to Trinity's 18 shots and ten shots on net.
With the win, the Heat's record improves to (5-7-2) and keeps them in the fifth place standing in the Pacific Division of Canada West and Spartans finish the regular season with a record (9-5-2). Trinity has clinched a postseason berth and will wait through their upcoming bye weekend to see if the hold onto the top seed in the division.
With only one weekend left of Canada West play the Heat will be looking pushing for points as they try and overtake the Thompson Rivers WolfPack for the fourth and final playoff spot, UBCO trails TRU by two points in the standings.
The Heat and the WolfPack close the season on the road when they travel to the Coast to play the UBC Thunderbirds and Victoria Vikes.
The first UBCO game will take place on Friday (Oct. 21) against UBC at Thunderbird Stadium with a start time of 7 p.m. Followed by a second match against the University of Victoria Vikes on Saturday (Oct. 22) at Centennial Stadium in Victoria with a start time of 7:15 p.m.