Steven Lin, Heat athletics
KELOWNA, B.C. – After a scoreless first half, Trinity Western Spartans scored three goals in the second half sending the UBC Okanagan Heat women's soccer team to a (3-0) loss Sunday afternoon at the Nonis Sports Field.
Elizabeth Hicks, Kathleen Chin, and Gabi Short each netted one of the three goals in the second half for TWU and Seina Kashima, assisted on the game winner, now has seven helpers on the season. Gabi Short, with her goal in Kelowna, has now equaled Kashima's five goals to co-lead the Spartans.
After today's loss on the home turf, the Heat dropped their record to (2-5-1). The Spartan's victory in Kelowna improves their record to (8-1-0) and top team in the Pacific division of Canada West Conference.
First Half:
The power house of the Pacific Division, Spartans, attempted several shots on Heat's territory; however, Iona Lawson, the goalkeeper of the Heat, saved four shots on goal and extended the game to a tie in the first half.
In the 25th minute, the Heat had a big scoring opportunity by intercepting a pass from Spartans. The UBCO forward Mackenzie Pfoh striked from the left side toward the corner of the net, but the shot was knocked aside by Spartans' goalie, Rachel Sydor.
The Spartans best first half chance was in the final minutes when, Danae Derksen was able to receive the cross giving her a one on one chance against Lawson.
Lawson was up to the task, her quick reaction blocked out the ball away from harm after Derksen cracked the ball from less then three yards away.
After 45 cold, wet minutes the match remained deadlocked at zero (0-0).
Second Half:
The No. 3 ranked Spartans entered the second half with a renewed aggressiveness on offence. In the first three minutes of the half TWU managed two more shots that had to be turned away by Lawson and earned one of their seven corner in the match.
The first Spartan goal was off the head of Elizabeth Hicks who finished straight off of Seina Kashioma's corner kick in the 56th minute. It was Hicks third goal of the season.
Playing even for the next 10 minutes the Heat let the match get away from them as TWU scored twice in a three-minute span.
In the 66th minute Kathleen Chin netted her second goal of the season and just two minutes later Gabi Short netted 5th of season, to close out the scoring in the match.
Even with several UBCO substations on the front line the Heat could only muster one shot in the second half as the Spartans melted away the clock to a final score of (3-0).
Up Next:
Both teams will play in their rival derby on the Thanksgiving weekend.
The Spartans play a homer and home with the UFV Cascades this Friday then Sunday in the battle of the Fraser Valley.
UBC Okanagan and Thompson Rivers will begin their Interior of B.C. derby and continue the Presidents' Cup competition with their own home and home two-match set.
First up UBC Okanagan will be on the road playing against Thompson Rivers on Thursday at 6 p.m. The return bout closes the derby in Kelowna on Saturday at 1 p.m.