Despite not making the postseason, the UBC Okanagan women's soccer team finished their 2022 campaign on a high note, with an emphatic 4-2 victory over the UNBC Timberwolves on Sunday.
The Heat got the scoring going early, as West Kelowna's Abigail Taneda set up Sophia Clarke in the 11th minute to bury her first career goal as a Heat player.
Then, in the 25th minute, Taneda would steal the ball from the Timberwolves goalkeeper to nab her second of the season.
W⚽️ | 25'
— UBCO Heat 🔥 (@UBCOHeat) October 16, 2022
The Heat double their lead on a goal by Abigail Taneda!!!
0-2 | #FeedtheFlame🔥 | #UNBCvsUBCO pic.twitter.com/D8Xaxn16Xk
Prince George's Hannah Edmond would respond prior to the stroke of halftime to cut their deficit to within one.
UNBC's momentum seemed to carry over into the second, as Edmond would net another in the 57th to knot things up.
Heat's Rhema Batchondo took back the lead for the visitors as she scored following a misplay by the hosts.
W⚽️ | 73'
— UBCO Heat 🔥 (@UBCOHeat) October 16, 2022
Rhema Batchondo gives the Heat the late lead! They're looking to hang on for the victory!
2-3 | #FeedtheFlame🔥 | #UNBCvsUBCO pic.twitter.com/FUHhbtXLwb
Then, with time winding down in the game and the 'Wolves looking for an equalizer, Sophie Campbell would ice the game for the Heat with a beautiful goal in the 87th, to seal the 4-2 victory.
Okanagan would end the season with a 4-7-3 record, their best ever in Canada West play, as it marks an important step forward for the team as they look to push for the playoffs next season. The 12 goals scored on the season represents the second most they have ever scored since the team joined the conference in 2014.
As for the men's soccer team, the Heat will be getting a boost next season with the addition of Dario Fedele. Fedele is a 6 ft 2 in forward from Port Coquitlam who spent the past year with the Coquitlam Metro Ford in the BC Soccer Premier League.
The 18-year-old also spent time with the Whitecaps FC Academy beginning in August 2019.
"We as a staff are very excited that Dario has committed to us for the upcoming season," said Heat head coach Dante Zanatta.
"As a player with a nose for the goal, we have high hopes for him with our program. He is an athletic footballer that can play anywhere across the front and score many different ways. We have been tracking Dario for the past three years and feel very fortunate that he has chosen to further his footballing future with us."
Fedele is an honour roll student at Riverside SS and has spent time with the BC provincial program, on both the U14 and U17 teams.
The men's squad has two more games left in their regular season, at UBC on Friday, then at Victoria on Saturday.
For more information on Heat soccer, click here.
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