Abbotsford — The UFV Cascades men’s soccer team pulled off a 2-1 victory over the UNBC Timberwolves tonight in a fashion that will cause gnashing teeth in some quarters and rejoicing in others. The second game in a two-day series often has a little more intensity, a little more accosting of the referees, a little more vinegar than the first, and tonight was no exception. The Cascades played to win, the Timberwolves played to win, and each team left the pitch with wounds to lick and grudges to nourish.
The win pulls UFV up to 3-3-0 on the season, while the Timberwolves lengthen their free fall to 1-4-0.
The game began with the same intensity with which last night’s ended, and simply accelerated from there. UFV controlled the ball and came on strong in the opening minutes, but despite creating some frantic moments in the UNBC box, couldn’t find a way to pull the trigger. Cascade striker Justin Sekhon was a veritable force of nature as he harried the UNBC defense and created chances for teammates Connor MacMillan and James Najman. Sekhon paid for his success throughout the game with the loving attention of the Timberwolves defenders, and ended most plays face-first in the turf. His UNBC counterpart at the other end of the turf, Tofa Fakunle, might have sympathized under other circumstances, but not tonight with three points and significant pride in the balance.
The first Cascades goal came in the 43rd minute after a Timberwolves foul set up a UFV indirect kick 40-odd yards out from the right side of the field. UFV’s Colton O’Neill tapped the ball to allow Ryan Liddiard an attempt on net, and Liddiard unleashed a rocket of a shot that beat UNBC keeper Ty Venhola cleanly. It was only one of 12 shots the Cascades accumulated during the half, compared to the Timberwolves’ single attempt.
Still, the numbers were very different in the second half as UNBC found new inspiration in the inability of UFV to score a second goal. In the 58th minute the Timberwolves were awarded a free kick from prime position outside the box, and, in the resulting scramble, the referee found reason to point to the spot.
UNBC’s chosen kicker Brett Bobier blew the penalty shot, allowing keeper Alex Skrzeta to make the save, but managed to redeem himself by capitalizing on the rebound. Skrzeta actually distinguished himself several times in the half by making critical saves as UNBC outshot the home team 8-5. Yet it was UFV who were able to make the mesh ripple, first with a scoring play ruled offside, and second with one of the prettier goals the Cascades have produced this year.
Midfielder Juan Pablo Mora Perea made a run down the middle in the 70th minute, triggering three separate runs from Cascades bearing down on the UNBC defense. Mora Perea kept the ball for what it agonizingly seemed was a moment too long, before eventually sending a diagonal pass through to Harry Owen in that magic space between defender and goalkeeper. Owen finished with the type of quality the Cascades have often lacked in the last few weeks, creating a moment the team will want to remember as they prepare for the future.
“I am delighted that we got six points this weekend,” said Cascades coach Alan Errington. “It’s a step in the right direction. I thought we played very well tonight, especially in the first half when we had a lot of chances we could have scored on. I thought both goals were very good. We dodged a couple of bullets, but I thought we deserved to win.”
The Cascades will play the TRU WolfPack next Friday, Sept 26, at 4 pm at Bateman Park in Abbotsford. The Timberwolves will play host to the University of Victoria Vikes on Saturday, Sept 27 at 2:15 pm. All games will be streamed with live video and stats at http://canadawest.tv
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