Chilliwack, BC …The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades men’s soccer team tied the CIS number one ranked University of Alberta Golden Bears, 1-1, on a Sasa Plavsic, Coquitlam, BC goal in the final minute of play to improve their Canada West record to 1-2-3 for 6 points. The Golden Bears record improves to 5-1-1 for 16 points.
The match played in front of 250 plus fans was fast paced and very physical as the referee handed out six yellow cards and called more than 20 fouls. The Cascades showed the fans they can compete with the top Canada West teams as they kept pace with Alberta all evening. The first half saw UFV have several excellent opportunities to open the scoring as they tested the Golden Bears goalkeeper Jay Vetsch, Edmonton, Alberta and the Alberta defense. Craig Robinson, Chilliwack, BC and Justin Sekhon, Abbotsford, BC each hit the cross bar in the half off corner kicks from Plavsic. Mark Village, Abbotsford, BC continued to have a career year as he stopped the Golden Bears on several point blank shots in the UFV net. The lone goal of the first half came with less than two minutes remaining when Eddy Sidra, Edmonton, AB set up Cameron Schmidt, Edmonton, AB who beat Village to the short side.
The rough play continued in the second half as both teams continued to battle in the middle of the pitch. The Cascades started to control the tempo of the match midway through the half, but Alberta’s defense held the Cascades offense in check. UFV mounted one last attack in referees time and it paid off as the Cascades were awarded a penalty shot, when an Alberta defender was called for haling down a Cascade in the box. Plavsic, who has been as close to automatic on penalty shots this season, buried the ball past Vetsch to tie the match.
The Cascades are now unbeaten in four straight and host the Victoria Vikes next Friday night, at Exhibition Field.
“We had an excellent weekend with two positive results against top ten teams,” said UFV head coach Alan Errington. “Tonight was a character builder for our young team. They never quit and came back to earn the point.”
Alberta 1 0 = 1 (5-1-1)
UFV 0 1 = 1 (1-2-3)
Scoring
First Half
43:50 UA Schmidt (Sidra)
Second Half:
90:00 UFV S Plavsic (PK)
Goalkeepers:
UA: J Vetsch 3 Saves/ UFV: M Village 1 Save
Shots on Goal:
UA: 6 /UFV: 11
Corner Kicks:
UA: 7/ UFV: 4
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