KELOWNA, BC - First year forward Kaylin Ferguson's wonder strike didn't prove to be enough for the home team as the University of Alberta attcker Terri Kutryk's two goals helped the visiting Pandas to beat UBC Okanagan team 3-1 on Sunday (Oct. 25) at the Nonis Sports Field in the final women's soccer match of the year for the Heat.
Pandas midfielder Morgan Corbett opened the scoring for the visiting side in the 15th minute of the game which was immediqately followed by Kutryk scoring her first goal of the in the 16th minute of the game. Rookie Ferguson brought the hosts back into the game in the 33rd minute with an astonishing strike from a distance that beat the Pandas' goalkeeper. Alberta answered quickly however, Kutryk got her her second goal of the game in the 36th minute to put the visiting Pandas in a commanding position. Each of the four goals came in the first half of the match.
The Heat goalkeeper Francesca Balletta had a brilliant game having a total of ten saves including two brilliant reflex saves, one in each half. The Pandas found it difficult to score past her in the second half. Balletta made a crucial save midway through the second only for the ball to be cleared off the lines by a Heat defender.
Corbett's goal in the 15th minute came when the midfielder finished past the Heat goalkeeper into the bottom corner after she was found by a pass by midfielder Annalise Schellenberg.
The Pandas were relentless and continued their attacking when a through ball by midfielder Kristen Livingstone allowed striker Kutryk to finish into an open net, giving no chance to goalkeeper Balletta as well as the UBC Okanagan backline.
The goal of the game however, came in the 33rd minute when two rookies connected for an electrfying goal. Heat midfielder Madelyn Ellis's pass met Ferguson who curled the ball into the top left corner of the net from outside the 18-yard box, leaving the Pandas' goalkeeper Jamie Misiaszek no chance for a save. Ferguson's brilliant strike was her third goal of the season, and for the second time of the year the first year player was named the UBC Okanagan player of teh match.
The visiting side however were quick to react as Kutryk went on to get her second goal of the game in the 36th minute after she was found by midfielder Schellenberg who provided her second assist of the afternoon. For Scellenberg's efforts shw was awarded the Alberta player of the match.
The best opportunity for Heat came in the opening minutes of the second half when senior player Mairi Horth, who was playing her final game as a Heat player, provided a short pass to two incoming strikers in the 18 yard box but none of them were able to make contact with the ball.
The Pandas have successfully made it into the playoffs securing 25 points in the 14 game conference schedule. Their campaign so far has seen them win on eight occasions and the will open up the post-season in Langley in an matchup with the Trinity Western Spartans on Sat. Oct. 31.
The UBC Okanagan Heat played their final game of the season and finish with a (2-8-4) conference record, one more win then their 2014 campaingn. As this was the last match the Heat honoured graduating senior players Mairi Horth and Michelle Smith prior to the match.
~ Nimai Trivadi // Heat communications