If you went to the soccer field at Masich Place Stadium Saturday afternoon expecting a high-scoring affair the UBC-Okanagan Heat and UNBC Timberwolves were not about to oblige.
For the third time in two seasons they battled to a scoreless draw.
The implications of each team gaining just one point for a tie in the U Sports Canada West men’s soccer standings instead of three for a win are less consequential to the T-wolves than they are to the Heat.
The T-wolves (4-3-5) are already in a playoff position, sitting fourth in the Pacific Division standings with three games left in the season. The Heat (4-3-5) needed to win to keep their slim hopes alive to catch UNBC for the fourth and final playoff spot.
The visitors from Kelowna were basically one goalpost away from doing that Saturday. Six minutes into the game, Nikhal Reddy took a crossing feed from Aidan Tuck inside the box and booted the ball off the goalpost, much to the relief of UNBC goalie Rob Goodey.
In the first game of a weekend doubleheader with the T-wolves, UBC-O appeared to be the hungrier team, especially in the second half, when they won most of the battles for ball possession.
Heat shooters kept Goodey busy with three quality shots on net in the final 45 minutes. Goodey had to dive to put the stop on Jimmy Steel, who launched a free kick from 23 yards out trying to get his team on the scoreboard. That came with about eight minutes left, after the teams had traded chances.
At the 75-minute mark, Heat midfielder Corbin Beauchemin fired a right-side shot from 15 yards way that forced Goodey to drop low to the turf to smother the ball and at the other end a few minutes later, Cody Gyspers was denied by the extended arms of Heat goalie Nicholas Reitsma, who timed his jump perfectly.
Luke Warkinton also tested Goodey late in the game.
“I thought the boys competed very well - they could have had three in the first half and two in the second so if you can make five scoring chances in a game, that’s a good day,” said Heat head coach Dante Zanatta.
“I’m not concerned with their effort, they’re a young group and they have to learn how to become better at things. The final pass put us in trouble sometimes. I thought our boys were unfortunate not to win. They took a big step forward learning how to play and competing and creating scoring chances against a good team. We’re still not out, I don’t think, but we’ve got to win (Sunday).”
The T-wolves had a slight edge in shots on goal, 7-6, generating most of their best chances in the first half. Their attacks lacked cohesion and it showed in the final outcome.
“Today it was 0-0 maybe out of a lack of quality from us and a lack of execution from them at the very end because I thought they were unfortunate not to score,” said UNBC head coach Steve Simonson.
“It’s a bit of psychology for both teams. They have everything to lose but nothing to lose, because it has to go right for them. They can play almost stress-free because maybe they think they can’t get through (to the playoffs) coming into this game. Whereas our guys, there shouldn’t be stress because we didn’t need to win today, we have a bit of a cushion. But obviously when you’re not winning you start to tense up a bit.”
Thompson Rivers University (3-6-3, fifth in Pacific) and Victoria (3-7-3, sixth in Pacific), like the Heat, are both chasing UNBC for a postseason berth. TRU is on a bye weekend with a tough schedule ahead, facing second-place Trinity Western, first-place UBC and Victoria. The Vikes lost their fourth straight game Friday night n Victoria, dropping a 2-1 decision to Trinity Western.
Victoriawas playing Fraser Valley later Saturday and will wrap up the season next weekend on the road against TRU and UBC-O.
The Heat-T-wolves rematch at Masich starts at Sunday at 2 p.m.
In Canada West women’s action Saturday in Calgary, the host Dinos topped UNBC 3-0. The T-wolves (1-7-3, eight in Pacific) move on to Lethbridge to play the Pronghorns (1-9-1, eight in Prairie) Sunday (11 a.m. PT). Both teams will be trying to snap three-game losing steaks.
