By Nathan Hutton (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: September 24, 2014
It’s known around the world as “the beautiful game.” Soccer is a sport with a deep and rich past, and it unites the world in competition every four years. It’s also a sport that the Cascades excel at.
The UFV soccer program is one of two that play at the CIS (university level) at the school, meaning they face the best competition day in and day out.
This past weekend (September 19 and 20) the Cascades had a chance to shine as the men’s and women’s soccer teams battled in the heart of Abbotsford against two strong teams from the University of Northern British Columbia.
The women’s soccer team came into the weekend at 3-1-0. In the first of two games, the team was represented well by fourth-year criminology major Shelby Beck, who registered two goals by the 55th minute, giving the Cascades a two-goal lead and securing the Cascades’ victory. UNBC’s Sydney Hall would get a goal back late, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the lone effort of Beck, who was also named the Cascades’ woman of the match.
“I thought Shelby Beck was the difference today with her assertive play up front. As well, Sunayna Samra came off the bench and made a very positive impact for us in an attacking role,” Cascades coach Rob Giesbrecht told the Cascades Media.
The second game for the women would allow them to extend their winning streak to five games, increasing their overall record to 5-1-0. Beck scored again in the second contest of the weekend, bringing her season total to four. With back-to-back wins this weekend, the Cascades leapfrog the Trinity Western University Spartans for first place in the Canada West, Pacific Division.
The men’s soccer team had struggled early this year to remain consistent, their 1-3-0 record being a tell-all. The offense has struggled mightily to put points on the board. Prior to this weekend, the Cascades men hadn’t scored more than one goal a game since the beginning of the regular season.
That changed Friday night, when the Cascades put up not only one goal, nor two, but kicked three balls into the back of the net against the UNBC Timberwolves. The game was punctuated by sloppy play from both teams, but for the first time this year it seemed that the bounces weren’t going against the Cascades, but for them.
The second game of the weekend featured a Timberwolves team that was anxious to get the chance to redeem the loss that the Cascades handed them the night before. The Cascades controlled the game early but failed to capitalize on chances that looked like they had been gift-wrapped for them. The Cascades broke through late into the first half, giving them the one-goal lead. Playing with the lead helped the Cascades to secure the win as they took more chances for the rest of the game, getting another goal and winning the game 2-1, extending their overall record to 3-3-0.
The Cascades are home again next weekend doing battle with the TRU WolfPack and the UBCO Heat.
