Knowing the playoffs were out of reach, the UNBC Timberwolves still gave the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades a serious challenge in a pair of season-ending games in Abbotsford.
The UNBC men's soccer team fought UFV to a 1-1 draw on Friday night and dropped a 2-0 decision on Saturday. The Timberwolves finished the Canada West season at 4-10-2 (seventh in the Pacific Division, 12th of 14 overall) while the Cascades ended at 8-6-2, good for third place in the Pacific (sixth overall) and a playoff spot. They'll be in Calgary this weekend for a first-round match against the U of C Dinos (9-4-2), who placed second in the Prairie Division.
In the Friday game, played in a steady rain, James Najman scored in the 13th minute for UFV and Cheona Edzerza responded for UNBC in the 60th.
Cascades head coach Tom Lowndes said his team wasn't sharp in the second half but he gave high marks to UNBC and its head coach, Steve Simonson.
"We let them back into the game with a goal, and full credit to them," Lowndes said. "They passed the ball really well. They're really well-coached. No problems in saying they were the better team in the second half. If they'd gone on to win it, you probably would have held your hands up and said it's what they deserve."
Edzerza's goal was a beauty. On the play, the third-year striker from Prince George ran the ball to the middle of the pitch and, with a pair of UFV defenders in his wake, blasted a shot from the top of the 18-yard box. Once off his foot, the ball curled inside the far post, past Cascades keeper David Hicks, who had replaced injured starter Alex Skrzeta.
In Saturday's rematch, Justin Sekhon and Jassi Mann were the marksmen for UFV. Their goals came late in the first half and early in the second half, respectively. UNBC generated some opportunities in the dying moments, including a shot by fourth-year midfielder/striker Tofa Fakunle that goalie Hicks managed to punch over the crossbar in a leaping effort.
Local product Mitch MacFarlane guarded the UNBC net in both games. Saturday marked the final outing of his UNBC career. Everyone else in the lineup is eligible to return next season.
