The UBC Okanagan Heat scored early and often, jumping all over a young UNBC Timberwolves side and topping the visiting TWolves 8-1 on Saturday in Kelowna.
It was the Heat who came out firing, forcing a turnover in the UNBC third in the second minute, and finding talented forward Stefanie Young on a break. The third-year attacker took it from there, streaking in on Brityn Hinsche and slipping it under the Williams Lake goalkeeper to make it 1-0 UBCO.
In the 18th minute, Young struck again. The Kelowna product gathered it at midfield and took out, beating Hinsche with a laser from 20 yards out. The goal also put Young into sole possession of first place in goals in Heat program history.
UBCO continued to pour it on as the young TWolves struggled to generate much in the way of momentum, Goals from Nina Louis and Sydney Kolodziej stretched the advantage to 4-0, where the deficit stood after 45 minutes.
The second half was more tough sledding for UNBC, as UBC Okanagan got goals from Abigail Taneda, Annabelle Walker, a second marker from Kolodziej, and a hat-trick goal from Young to grow the lead and put the game out of reach.
Veteran TWolf Avery Nystedt was her usual tough-nosed self, battling the entire game alongside fellow defenders Kalista Kirkness, Kambria Mellum, and Maleah Fernie.
In the 85th minute, UNBC did get on the scoreboard, as Kelowna product Kambria Mellum scored the first goal of her Canada West career off a Kalista Kirkness corner, breaking the clean sheet late in the match.
The Timberwolves will now travel east next weekend, visiting the Manitoba Bisons and Winnipeg Wesmen.
The Heat will also be on the road, playing at Regina and Saskatchewan.