UNBC is basically back to where they were a year ago in terms of trying to extend their Canada West season for women’s soccer.
As the Timberwolves enter their final weekend of the 2019 campaign, they’re slated to face two of the top four teams in the Pacific Division who have already clinched a playoff spot.
The women are on the road starting in Victoria tonight (Oct. 18) and will finish off the year on the UBC pitch tomorrow (Oct. 19), both with 5 p.m. kick-offs.
UNBC currently sits fifth in the division, a record of 3-5-2, with the top six moving on to the first-round knockout stage of the post-season.
While they hope to muster a weekend sweep down south, the Lady T-Wolves also understand there are three teams fighting for two playoff spots and will have to keep a watchful eye on the out-of-town scoreboard.
Those other schools are the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) and rival-Thompson Rivers (TRU), who conveniently face each other tonight in Abbotsford at 5:30 p.m.
However, both teams are up against different opponents on Saturday with UFV hosting last-place UBC-Okanagan, while TRU continues west on Highway 1 to Langley to face 10-win Trinity Western.
Now, in order for UNBC to advance to the playoffs, here are some of the best-case scenarios we calculated.
- UNBC wins one or both games
- UNBC draws both games = UFV or TRU wins out
- UNBC loses both games = UFV beats TRU, TRU must lose final match
- UNBC loses both games = TRU beats UFV, UFV must lose final match
- UNBC loses both games = UFV and TRU draw in final two games
Last year, the Timberwolves defeated UBC-Okanagan 1-0 at Masich Place in the final regular-season contest to get to the playoffs.
In a team release, first-year Kaya Oro Martin feels her team is ready for the challenge.
“I think we’ve seen a lot of improvement this season, and this final weekend will be about playing at the level we’re capable of to prove to ourselves how far we’ve come and to honour everyone who has supported us. We’re all really excited about the opportunity to be able to compete against a couple of top-level teams to finish off the regular season.”
A milestone will also be recorded on Saturday for graduating athlete Julia Babicz, who will suit up in her 68th game in UNBC green and gold and pass Madison Emmond’s career record.
