Sunday morning in Abbotsford, the UNBC Timberwolves wrapped up their 2024 Canada West season with a 2-1 loss at the hands of the University of Fraser Valley Cascades. Jasdeep Dhaliwal scored both goals for the Cascades in the first half, while fifth-year defender Sarah Lepine answered with her first ever Canada West marker for UNBC. Brityn Hinsche finished the day with seven saves between the pipes for the Green and Gold while Addy Chen made two saves for UFV to secure the win.
In the sixth minute, Jasdeep Dhaliwal found some free space down the left side, took a pass from Jaspreet Deol and snuck a low shot past Hinsche to make it 1-0 for UFV.
Fia Cameron had a good look for UNBC in the 17th minute as she deflected a Kjera Hayman free-kick on target, but Chen made the save.
At the other end, Hinsche rattled off two saves in quick succession in the 32nd minute as she turned aside Emerson Toop and Keanna Bentley. Then in the 41st, she stoned Dhaliwal off a header in close that came as a result of a Camryn Lyon corner kick.
The Cascades pressure continued though, and eventually the lead got pushed to 2-0 when Dhaliwal got her brace off a failed clear. Sarah Belcher had the assist.
At half, the shots on target were 6-2 for UFV.
Neil Sedgwick made four substitutions to start the second half as Sidney Elliott, Sarah Lepine, Kate Rattee and Camryn Cline all took to the field.
In the 70th minute, an incredible moment for fifth-year defender Lepine, who in her final career Canada West game, recorded her first career Canada West goal. It came off a right-footed volley that found its way perfectly under the bar and into the left corner of the Cascades goal.
Lepine’s goal provided a major boost to the TWolves who defended and attacked with urgency as the minutes ticked away on the clock. But unfortunately the TWolves ran out of time, and were unable to find the equalizer.
The TWolves 2024 record stands at 1-13-0 while the Cascades finish at 3-9-2.
As the dust begins to settle on the 2024 UNBC Women’s soccer season, one can’t ignore the glaring positives and good news stories that stemmed from this season.
Brityn Hinsche left no doubt that she’s among the elite goalkeepers in Canada West. She finished the 2024 season with 124 saves.
Blake Plummer, Kate Rattee and Sarah Lepine all notched their first Canada West goals.
Second-year defender Maleah Fernie played every single second of soccer for UNBC this season.
First-year players Keeley Read, Scarlet Thomas and Maresha Manulak combined for 41 starts.
The six graduates: Claire Turner, Sidney Elliott, Sarah Lepine, Brityn Hinsche, Camryn Cline and Kjera Hayman led through both actions and words, and helped set a standard and a culture that is going to position this program for great things in the years to come.