The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades men’s soccer team picked up a tie and a win over the weekend on the road.
The squad played to a 1-1 draw on Friday night (Aug. 30) in Kelowna and to a 2-0 victory on Saturday (Aug. 31) in Kamloops.
Friday’s match against the UBC Okanagan Heat saw the Cascades control the run of play for most of the game, but UBCO found the first big chance on goal in the 75th minute.
Alex Sol's curling shot from the top of the box was tipped off the post by UFV's fifth-year goalkeeper Jackson Cowx before Dulain Panditha was able to clear it off the line.
Just seven minutes later, the Cascades found the breakthrough. Mateo Brazinha drove up the right wing and cut the ball back across the middle to find Kevin Mailand, who buried it to put UFV in the lead.
The lead was short-lived, as the Heat's Jaise Shaw managed to get free in the box, and his shot found the right corner to level the game in the 83rd minute.
MSOC | 75’ Jackson Cowx with a huge save, and Dulain Panditha clears it away to keep us level! pic.twitter.com/M64ou9nETe
— UFV Cascades (@UFVCascades) August 31, 2024
Both teams had opportunities in stoppage time.
UFV's Brazinha was fouled late and his cross on the ensuing free kick was unable to find the touch to redirect it in.
Shaw looked to win it just moments later as he broke in alone before being called offside.
Brazinha's assist was his third of the season and puts him on six points to lead Canada West in both categories.
After scoring the winner last game, Mailand has scored in two straight for UFV.
"Credit to them, I thought they kept the ball well in the first half, but second half we changed a few things defensively, and I thought we affected the game a lot more. We created a lot of chances,” said coach Tom Lowndes.
"I think Canada West this year is going to be the most competitive it has ever been, top to bottom, and teams are going to take points off each other … We want to get points out of every game we play."
Saturday’s game against the TRU WolfPack was a wild match from start to finish, with three red cards handed out.
The Cascades got off to a dream start in the match. UFV's Harjoven Sidhu stole the ball from TRU's Zach Hamedi in the fifth minute and buried the breakaway chance to put UFV up 1-0.
Just moments later, UFV's Mateo Brazinha broke in off the right side of the box, but a sliding save from TRU goalkeeper Luca Ortu kept the scoreline level.
Not to be outdone, UFV's Jackson Cowx made a sparkling save in the 19th minute, parrying the ball out before Carson Muter made a sliding block to clear the danger.
Cowx was called into action again in the 35th minute, as Lachlan Will broke in alone for the WolfPack, but the Cascades' keeper once again came out on top with the save.
The Cascades' goal scorer found himself in trouble late in the opening half. After already picking up a caution for a challenge earlier on, Sidhu went to ground on a sliding tackle in the 40th minute and was sent off for a second yellow.
After a fairly uneventful start to the second half, UFV's Ebi Igali took advantage of a long ball in the 79th minute, and after turning his defender, was brought down on a breakaway by TRU's Aren Christianson, who was in turn shown the red card.
With each team fielding 10 players, the Cascades took advantage to seal the match in the 88th minute.
Brazinha charged into the box before finding Riku Suga, who put away his first goal of the season to make it 2-0.
Moments later, TRU's Mikkel Rosenlund was called for a foul on UFV's Michael Beecroft, and a short altercation ensued that resulted in Rosenlund being sent off.
Both Sidhu and Suga notched their first goals of the season.
Cowx picked up his second shutout of the season – and seventh of his career – to tie former Cascades keeper David Hicks for third in program history.
Brazinha picked up his fourth assist of the season and seventh point through four games to lead the conference in both categories. His four assists have him just two back of the program's single-season Canada West record.
Lowndes declared the match “one of the best performances” of his tenure.
“I thought we battled against adversity, and we could have caved, but we stood up and were counted,” he said.
“I hope this is a performance that can kickstart something special because I think this group has it in them. They are willing to fight for each other on the field, and they have a really tight bond so it's really pleasing to see."
UFV's 3-0-1 record marks the best four-game start to a Canada West season in program history.
The Cascades continue their road swing this week as they take on the Victoria Vikes on Friday (Sept. 6) at 7:15 p.m. before facing the UBC Thunderbirds on Saturday (Sept. 7) at 7 p.m.
RELATED: UFV Cascades men's soccer team off to best start since 2016
MSOC | So close to doubling the lead… pic.twitter.com/29SIvQybnH
— UFV Cascades (@UFVCascades) September 1, 2024
