Friday night at Masich Place Stadium in Prince George, B.C. the visiting UBC Okanagan Heat (8-3-2) secured a 3-1 victory over the UNBC Timberwolves (0-12-1).
The young TWolves were full marks against one of the top squads in the Pacific Division, staying tied with the high-flying Heat for over half of the match. Second-year defender Kambria Mellum notched her second goal of the season for UNBC, while Annika Gross, Megan Sun and Stefanie Young all struck for UBCO.
The two teams traded goals within an eight-minute span of the first half, and both came because of corner kicks. First it was UBCO in the 11th minute who forced the ball loose along the left side of the penalty area after Abigail Taneda’s corner kick effort. Third-year mid-fielder Annika Gross stepped to it and blasted a low shot home for her first of the season.
In the 19th minute, the TWolves responded in kind when Kalista Kirkness’ corner kick handcuffed UBCO goalkeeper Talia Gagnon. The ball deflected outward to a waiting Kambria Mellum who tipped the ball home for her second of the season, evening the score at 1-1. Kirkness drew the assist thanks to her crafty corner kick.
Credit the hosts who kept a powerful Heat squad even for the remainder of the first half. The best chance for the Heat came in the 26th minute when Stephanie Young, who entered the evening tied with UBC’s Katalin Tolnai for the leading goal scorer in Canada West, drilled a shot high off the crossbar.
UNBC then countered with a good look from Camryn Cline who won a battle for the ball in the mid-field and went for a run down the right wing before sending a shot over the UBCO target.
The score was 1-1 at half, with UBC holding an 8-2 edge in shots on target.
Eleven minutes into the second half, Kjera Hayman nearly gave UNBC the lead with a towering shot from the left wing that bounced off crossbar. The rebound avoided any further UNBC bodies and the ball was cleared to safety.
The visitors peppered the UNBC goal with a steady diet of shots through much of the second half, but defensively the young TWolves held their ground and forced some good looks of their own on the counterattack. Sidney Elliott subbed into the match in the 68th minute, and nearly gave UNBC the lead in the 71st off the rush. But her shot from the middle lane was stopped by Talia Gagnon.
The Heat’s territorial advantage paid off in the 75th minute when Abigail Taneda found an open Megan Sun inside the penalty area. Sun wasted no time in converting her second goal of the season giving UBCO their second (and final) lead of the evening.
In the 90th minute, Stefanie Young kept pace with Katalin Tolnai (who scored earlier in the day for UBC against TRU) when she buried her 14th goal of the Canada West campaign. Young’s marker was assisted by Alyssa Scott.
The Heat finished the match with 16 shots on target while UNBC countered with three.
For her offensive and defensive efforts Friday, the Mr. Mike’s Player of the Game for UNBC was Kelowna native Kambria Mellum who supplied the offense for the hosts.
Up next for UNBC, their final home game of the 2023 Canada West season which is slated for noon on Sunday afternoon against the Thompson Rivers Wolfpack.