Heat Men Earn Four Points In Canada West Soccer

The UBC Okanagan Heat managed just one shot on goal, but they made it count in a CIS Canada West men’s soccer game in Langley on Saturday.

Cole Kingzett of Penticton scored in the 65th minute for the Heat, while Trinity replied with a goal at 78:58 on one of five shots on goal to salvage a 1-1 tie.

The one point earned the Heat four for the weekend and kept them in the Pacific Division playoff picture. They downed the University of the Fraser Valley 3-0 on Friday in Abbotsford.

With eight points in eight games, the Heat sit in fifth place, two points back of the fourth and final playoff spot — held down by Trinity. But the Kelowna-based team has played two more games.

In what amounted to the Heat's only chance of the night, Kingzett was sent in alone and slotted home his opportunity from just inside the box.

Goalkeeper, Tait Cuthill, making his eighth straight start in net for UBC Okanagan stopped four of five shots from the Spartans, who took 19 shots toward the goal. His 38 saves on the season, places him in second place in the Canada West Conference. The third-year keeper is also third in save percentage (.792).

The initial 45 minutes saw a pressing Spartans team dominate possession, but they failed to break through. In the second half, TWU had more opportunities, but Adekugbe was the only Spartan able to beat Cuthill.

Adekugbe nearly found the goal in the 10th minute, but his shot soared over the goal. Leighton Johnson (Calgary) and Jarvis Ambaka (Maragoli, Kenya) also had first-half opportunities in the 16th and 27th minutes, but were left wanting. The Spartans did well with quick possession passes, but had only one of eight first-half shots hit the target.

The last 10 minutes saw a final burst of energy from the Spartans as the momentum from the goal pushed them onwards. The best chance for a winner came when Domenic Poletto (Calgary) put a long-range shot off the crossbar.

In the upcoming week, the Heat will play a home-and-home series with interior-rival Thompson Rivers WolfPack Oct. 9-10.

On Friday, the Heat received a two-goal effort from Luke Warkentin en route to their upset win over the third-place Cascades. Enzo Paal of Vernon added the third goal as the Heat snapped UFV’s three-game winning streak.

UBC Okanagan opened the scoring in the 16th minute after the Cascades tried unsuccessfully to clear a cross. Defender Brady Weir headed the ball forward, but it took a deflection and landed in Warkentin’s path. The CIS rookie from Surrey (Semiahmoo Secondary) drilled a shot just inside the right post to give his team an early lead.

Taking advantage of a quick free kick in the 41st minute, Paal played the ball to Kingzett who slid it past Cascade defender Sahib Phagura. The winger then nudged the ball past the outstretched arms of UFV’s goalkeeper Alex Skrzeta, while Warkentin finished with a touch into a wide-open net to give his team a 2-0 lead heading into halftime.

Kingzett was also instrumental in the Heat’s third goal of the game. He got in behind the Cascades defence and broke in on Skrzeta, who jumped off his line to cut off the attack. Kingzett pushed the ball wide past the keeper who had no choice but to bring the Heat forward down in the box. Paal stepped up to take the PK and struck a hard ball towards the left post. Skrzeta ranged to his right and made the initial stop, but Paal quickly pounced on the rebound and tucked the ball in.