A three-game winning streak has the UNBC Timberwolves in second place in the Pacific Division of Canada West men's soccer.
In the seven-team group, the Timberwolves (3-1-2) trail only the UBC Thunderbirds (7-0-1). The top four teams at the end of the season will make the playoffs.
The latest UNBC victory came on Sunday at Masich Place Stadium against the University of Calgary Dinos. The game ended 1-0 in favour of the T-wolves, who got the only goal they needed in the 37th minute off the foot of Michael Henman. The first-year striker took a through-ball from Owen Stewart, moved in on the Calgary net, and beat goalkeeper Jake Ruschkowski with his shot. The goal was Henman's first in Canada West play.
"I thought I had the advantage on the fullback," Henman told UNBC sports information officer Rich Abney after the game. "I got a nice ball from Owen, the goalie got a touch on it, but it still went in. First goal, felt good."
Henman and UNBC midfielder Abou Cisse were pressed into action because the T-wolves were missing two regular starters - Matt Jubinville and Josh McAvoy - due to injuries. Henman is from Victoria and Cisse hails from Bamako, Mali.
Cisse had his own great opportunity in the 69th minute but was turned back by Ruschkowski. Later, in the 82nd minute, Ruschkowski manufactured more brilliance when he dove to his right to stop a drive by Anthony Preston. In total, Ruschkowski made seven saves on eight shots.
In the UNBC net, Rob Goodey blocked all six shots he faced. In the 87th minute, he got help from his crossbar, which kept out a blast from Calgary's Mark Bohdan. The shutout was the third consecutive for Goodey, a third-year player from Langley.
"It's hard when you're struggling to score goals," Ruschkowski said. "You can't win a game if you don't score. We were sending a lot of guys late in the game but (the Timberwolves) were playing well out of the back.
"The finishing side of the game is haunting us a little bit."
The Dinos dropped to 3-5 on the season. They have scored four goals in their past six games.
Meanwhile, on Saturday in Langley, the UNBC women's soccer team dropped a 4-3 decision to the Trinity Western University Spartans, the first-place team in the Pacific Division. The Timberwolves trailed 2-1 at halftime and went down 3-1 in the 67th minute on a goal by Trinity's Elizabeth Hicks. UNBC, however, battled back three minutes later with a marker by Sofia Jones. The T-wolves were looking to keep the momentum going but, instead, Trinity's Amy Gartke quickly restored the two-goal lead. A few minutes before the final whistle, UNBC's Julia Babicz completed the scoring.
Gabi Short and Seina Kashima of Trinity Western scored the opening two goals of the first half and Madison Emmond countered for UNBC. Mara McCleary of the Timberwolves finished the game with two assists.
In the nets, Rachel Sydor of the Spartans stopped three of the six shots sent her way while Madi Doyle stopped six of 10.
Trinity improved its record to 5-1. The T-wolves - now in seventh place out of eight teams in the Pacific - dropped to 1-3-2. They started the weekend with a 2-1 loss to Abbotsford's Fraser Valley Cascades.
The Canada West season continues this week for both UNBC teams. The men will take to the field in Victoria on Thursday (5 p.m. start) to play a rescheduled game against the Vikes and will face the UBC Thunderbirds on Friday (5 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.) in Vancouver. The UNBC women host the Thunderbirds on Friday (6 p.m., Masich Place Stadium) and welcome the Vikes on Sunday (noon at Masich).
