Heat blanked (2-0) on T-Bird home turf

The UBC Okanagan Heat fell 2-0 to the UBC Thunderbirds women's soccer team under rainy skies at Thunderbird Stadium on Friday night.

The home team was coming off a shutout loss to Calgary last weekend, meaning they were looking to bounce back as their home stand continued.

The Thunderbirds scored once before the half, as UBC's Michelle Jang's well worked goal in the 25th minute that sent the home team into the lead at the break.

A goal off a set-piece just past the 60th minute proved more insurance then the Thunderbirds needed as they hang on for the clean sheet victory.

The second straight road loss for the Heat drop them to fifth in the Pacific Division table with a (2-2-1) record, the Thunderbirds are now (4-2-0) and tied with Trinity Western for tops in the table.

First Half:

With the pitch at Thunderbird damp and difficult, both teams found it increasingly challenging to keep possession in the early going with no general flow in the contest.

Kylee Walker of the Heat had the most prominent opportunity seven minutes in, after being sent in on goal but her rushed right footed strike skimmed past UBC keeper Emily Moore's net and just wide.

Their first of many UBC scoring chances in the first half came off the foot of second year forward Danielle Steer in the 10th minute. Rookie Michelle Jang played a tidy ball to the feet of Steer, she then fired a shot at UBCO's goalkeeper Iona Lawson, who parried aside the effort for a corner kick. Jang wouldn't be done with her neat play in the first half though, as Steer returned the favour with a ball to Jang, who's shot attempt was pushed wide of goal by Lawson in the 14th.

The home side was not going to be shut out for a second straight home match though, as they took a lead through a great passage of play down the right side. A nice switch from Margaret Hadley was controlled on the left wing by Steer, who picked up her head and found Rachel Jones just above the 18-yard box. The fourth-year midfielder spread the ball beautifully to the right to a streaking Hadley who whipped in a low cross to Jang in the area, Jang did the rest, redirecting it into the net for her second of the season and a 1-0 UBC lead in the 25th minute.

UBCO would counter with a dangerous chance to end the half, with the conditions playing a factor in the visitor's foray into UBC territory. Fourth-year Heat veteran Ally Ferronato ran onto a well-placed ball on the left flank and her delivery into the box fooled Moore who had to retreat and watch the ball just barely fly over the crossbar in the 40th minute for a goal kick.

Second half:

With the rain coming down even harder in the second half, once again it was difficult for either squad to garner possession or have any clear-cut chances. This continued for the first 15 minutes before UBC had a corner in UBCO territory that was delivered into the box. Alyssa Hunt got on the end of the set piece in the 62nd minute, and struck it right at Lawson who denied her, but Danielle Steer was right on the spot to deposit the ball into the top corner to make it 2-0 for the home side, and with that goal came comfort.

UBC held down the fort strong to end the match, with Moore making countless saves, the best chance in the second half for UBCO was an in-swinging corner, that the third-year keeper played away for another corner kick in the 85th minute.

Despite constant pressure on the UBC backline, they would end up securing a massive 2-0 victory at the end of 90 minutes behind goals from Jang and Steer.

Up next:

The Heat make the trek to the Island for a fourth consecutive road contest when they kickoff at 5 p.m. versus the University of Victoria Vikes on Saturday night.

Meanwhile, the Thunderbirds are back at it tomorrow at Ken Woods field against Thompson Rivers University, with that one kicking off at 5:30 p.m. on Canada West TV.

Heat Notes:

This is the third straight (2-0) defeat at the hands of the Thunderbirds suffered by UBC Okanagan…Iona Lawson made five saves in what is her first loss in three matches in net in her young career…

~ With notes from Gideon Hill/UBC Thunderbirds