KELOWNA, BC - Second year forward Courtney Hemmerling's twin strikes in the second half steered the UBC Okanagan women's soccer team to a 2-0 win against visiting UNBC Timberwolves, making it their first home win of the season.
Hemmerling's first goal on Saturday (Oct. 24) came early into the second half in the 51st minute when third year Rachel Parker's pass found the Kelowna striker who moved past two defenders only to finish the ball into the bottom left corner.
Just 15 minutes after her first Hemmerling added to her tally (65') when the freshman Sarah Histed found the sophomore from the wings, allowing the forward to finish into the bottom left corner for her second goal of the game and her third of the season. After lighting up Nonis Sports Field on Saturday with her two goals she was given player of the game for UBC Okanagan.
For her efforts on the Timberwolves, fifth year player Sydney Hall was given player of the game.
The game was very much in the balance in the first half with both sides getting their fair share of chances, creating opportunities on numerous occasions.
The home team had an excellent opportunity to open the scoring in the 11th minute of the game when a free kick for the Heat resulted in midfielder Madelyn Ellis finding herself in the box with the ball at her feet, but her shot just slided wide from close range.
UNBC had a great chance in the 25th minute when Tianna Piu broke down the left wing after a long clearing pass and got a clear shot on Francesca Balletta only to be denied.
Second year goalkeeper Francesca Balletta finished with her first clean sheet this campaign and the first shutout at home for the Heat this season. Balletta made two saves on 10 UNBC shots.
Heat showed attacking intent throughout the game, taking 13 shots with five on target.
The visiting Timberwolves had their best chance to beat Balletta late in the second half when midfielder Kaitlin Godsoe' s shot went just wide of the diving UBCO keeper.
Both teams today were playing for the future today having already been eliminated form post season play.
UBC Okanagan all season long played with a very young roster, having a total of nine first year players in their roster. The Heat's head coach Claire Paterson had a few words to say about her first year players' performance this season at the end of the game, "I think overall for the season it's been pretty good. There's a lot of moments of brilliance that we've seen so it's just getting past that youth now, getting them more comfortable playing together, more comfortable playing at home with those different pressures and managing their schedules. I'm really happy with where we are at with the players right now and moving forward. So yeah, it's been a good season."
Paterson also spoke promisingly about the future of her squad as she added, "The future, we are going to lose a couple of big players for us tomorrow so Mairi [Horth will be playing her final game tomorrow] and Michelle[Smith who will be playing her last game tomorrow] so we'll have those holes to fill but the group that we have in is good, we have a very good strong group of first and second year players and so it's been good this year."
The Timberwolves record falls to (1-9-3) and will be travelling to play Thompson Rivers University for their final game of the season on Sunday (Oct 25).
The UBC Okanagan Heat are now (2-7-4) and will be hosting University of Alberta in what is the final game of the season, and final of two senior players Mairi Horth and Michelle Smith. The game versus the Pandas will take place at the Nonis Sports Field with the game scheduled to be played on Sunday, October 25th starting at 12 p.m.
~ Nimai Trivadi // Heat communications