There aren’t many things faster than a speeding bullet.
However, UNBC Timberwolves men’s soccer rookie Isaac Tate is trying to challenge that theory.
The 18-year-old was flying around the ball, making his presence in a 3-1 win on Friday over the Fraser Valley Cascades (2-11) from Masich Place Stadium.
Freshman James Jordan talks after UNBC's 3-1 win over UFV pic.twitter.com/z4NEfaL7Lm
— UNBC Timberwolves (@UNBCATHLETICS) October 14, 2023
Tate’s blazing speed was evident right from the start. Less than three minutes into the game, tap dancing around Adriano Consiglio, then finding elite finisher Michael Henman who rippled the onion bag for a 1-0 UNBC lead.
The 18-year-old along with Gregor Smith and Connor Lewis were too much to handle for much of the first half, often putting the Cascades backline on their heels.
Over thirty minutes later, an excellent effort by Henman found Smith who beat Fraser Valley goalkeeper Jackson Cowx doubling the edge to 2-0.
With their backs up against the wall, the Cascades put together their best soccer in the final five minutes of the first half. Substitute Roland Mansell came in on a 2-on-1 following a UNBC misplay and redirected the ball into a high-traffic area.
However, what looked to be a sure goal was taken away by the head of Theo Tate who covered for veteran netminder Daniel Zadravec.
In the dying minutes, Kian Proctor cut the deficit in half, beating the UNBC goalkeeper for a 2-1 game at half.
After a shaky start to the second half, UNBC found their legs again as well as the dagger to the Cascades playoff hopes. Henman led rush past the midfield stripe locating a breaking Charlie Stewart who dribbled the ball with poise and fired a shot at Coax who failed to handle the ball clean, trickling into the goal.
The Timberwolves (3-7-2) outshot Fraser Valley 14-8 overall and improved to 3-7-2 on the year.
Both teams play again on Sunday at Masich Place Stadium.
In women’s action, another steller performance from Williams Lake goalkeeper Brittyn Hinsche wasn’t quite enough to give the UNBC women’s soccer team their first win.
A pair of late second half goals from Stefanie Young and Megun Sun propelled the UBC Okanagan Heat to a 3-1 win over the Timberwolves earlier in the evening.
Goal-scorer Annika Gross talks @UBCOHeat's 3-1 win over a tough UNBC side pic.twitter.com/8SycBnE2I3
— UNBC Timberwolves (@UNBCATHLETICS) October 14, 2023
The Heat (8-3-2) struck in the first 10 minutes as a long strike by Annika Gross, dipped into the corner of the goal past a sprawled out Hinsche.
However, Hinsche would make several ten-bell saves to keep the Timberwolves in the game, including an airborne stop on Bre Wong.
UBC Okanagan received seven corner kicks in the opening half but failed to capitalize on those opportunities.
Kambria Mellum put the Timberwolves on even terms kicking home a rebound off a UNBC corner, which failed to be corralled by Heat goalie Talia Gagnon.
The Kamptain makes it 1-1 pic.twitter.com/J6o6K0IJx4
— UNBC Timberwolves (@UNBCATHLETICS) October 14, 2023
The Timberwolves drop to 0-12-1 despite another double-digit save performance by Hinsche (11 saves).
😭
An emotional Sarah Lepine talks after the final game of her Canada West career. pic.twitter.com/QKHcrDR1tK
— UNBC Timberwolves (@UNBCATHLETICS) October 14, 2023
UNBC welcomes Thompson Rivers (4-7-2) to Masich Place Stadium on Sunday.
Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].
