The UNBC Timberwolves followed up a Friday draw with a 4-0 setback to the same Victoria Vikes on Saturday at Masich Place Stadium.
Matthew Pearse, Evan Larson, Jack Napier-Ganley and Archie Tugwell all had goals for the Vikes while Callum Weir recorded his second clean sheet in as many days. Logan Pierce responded with eight saves in the UNBC goal.
With the sun beating down on a gorgeous Saturday night in Prince George, the Victoria Vikes kicked off the match with two corner kick opportunities in the opening 12 minutes. Those two corner efforts didn’t yield any offense for Victoria, as Pierce and company did a fine job of protecting the front of their net.
The injury bug bit the TWolves twice in the first half as Charlie Stewart and Matt Botelho both had to enter the game in place of Connor Lewis and Colin Stauffer respectively.
In the 37th minute, the Timberwolves thought they had a breakway, but Isaac Tate was whistled down for an offside.
By the 40th minute, shots were 5-0 for Victoria, but the possession felt and looked more even compared to the night before.
In the 42nd minute the TWolves had a golden opportunity to score when Isaac Tate centered a perfect cross to Charlie Stewart. Stewart’s header attempt sailed just wide of the right post, keeping the game scoreless.
Finally, in the 45th minute the first goal of the weekend was scored. Fittingly it was the reigning Canada West Player of the Week, Matt Pearse who did the damage. Pearse took a feed from Yassin Gultouni in motion, quickly cut to his left pas a defender and blasted his fifth goal of the young season. The assist on the play came from Yassin Guitouni.
Shots at half were 8-0 Victoria.
At 11 minutes into the second half, the TWolves had a golden chance to tie it when Charlie Stewart had a point-blank look at the Victoria goal. Callum Weir’s first stop of the night was a stunner as he drove to his right and got just enough of his arm on the shot to deflect it wide.
Stewart’s offensive opportunities and his usual, dependable workman-like effort resulted in him being named the UNBC Mr. Mike’s Player of the Game.
Two minutes later, the TWolves momentum continued when Koss Nystedt snuck up the right wing and deflected a header on goal that Weir swallowed up.
In the 68th minute, Victoria added to their lead when Mattheus Achadinha bodied his way past two UNBC defenders before centering a feed to Evan Larson. Larson did the rest by taking one step to his right before pummelling a shot home for his first of the season.
Then in the 76th minute, a 3-0 goal for Victoria came off a left-wing feed from Cole Michel to the waiting Jack Napier-Ganley. The first-year midfielder did the rest notching his first career Canada West marker.
The final goal of the weekend came in the 85th minute, when Archie Tugwell scored off a set-piece header. The free-kick assist came courtesy of Alex Moody.
Shots at the end of the match were 12-2 for Victoria, who improved their unbeaten record to 3-0-1. The TWolves now sit at 0-3-1 and will look to secure their first victory in 2024 when they host the UBC Okanagan Heat for a Friday-Saturday double-header next weekend.
