After a two-game road trip, The UFV women’s soccer team headed home for back-to-back games. Before starting the weekend, the UFV’s women’s soccer team sat at a record of 0-1-1. Although the team was unable to grab a win in their first two games of the season, the Cascades were determined to capitalize on home soil.
The first of the two games saw the Cascades host the University of Manitoba Bisons on Friday at Matsqui Recreation Centre. The game started at 5:30 p.m.; however, it wasn’t long after that the first goal was scored by the Cascades’ opponents. With just over five minutes of play, Jessica Tsai entered the offensive zone with the ball. With no Cascade players around, Tsai lobbed the ball just enough to beat Cascades’ goaltender Joven Sandhu’s diving effort.
Although the Cascades started off the game behind, the team answered with three goals of their own during the first half of play. The first came when Bryana Buttar was able to find the ball close to the Bison’s net, after a scramble, and shot the ball low at the far corner. After Buttar tied up the game, it took 13 minutes for the Cascades to take the lead. This time it was Cascades’ Katie Lampen scoring off a pass from the corner on the field. After the Bisons’ goaltender, Karina Bagi, made a diving attempt to intercept the pass, Lampen was left with the ball alone in front of the net. As the ball bounced into the air, Lampen directed the ball into the net with her waist. The third goal came less than five minutes later when Brittney Zacharuk was afforded a free kick from the right side. Once Zacharuk struck the ball, Tavia Jasper was able to track it perfectly. Right before the ball hit the ground, Jasper lunged forward and deflected it into the net.
Heading into the second half, the Cascades held the lead 3-1. The Cascade’s last goal of the game was delivered by Simi Lehal. After receiving a pass from Kailyn Halvorson, Lehal tapped the ball past the Bison’s goalkeeper. With a score of 4-1 for the Cascades, UFV’s women’s soccer team was able to obtain their first win of the season at home.
Three of the four goals scored by the Cascades in Friday night’s game were scored by players who had yet to score this season. Lehal, Lampen, and Jasper all were able to get their first points of 2019. Buttar’s goal, however, marked her second point of the season.
Following their first win on Friday, the Cascades hosted the University of Winnipeg’s Wesmen the next day. In this game, the Cascades were able to capitalize on three of their shots. Starting out the scoring again was Buttar, for her third of the season, followed by Zacharuk’s back-to-back goals. With a dominating effort, the Cascades were able to keep the Wesmen to only one shot on goal, which Andrea Perkovic was able to stop. After the full 90 minutes of play, the Cascades left with their second win of the weekend with a score of 3-0.
After a short homestead, the Cascades are headed out to Alberta for two away games next weekend. On Saturday, Sept. 21 the Cascades will be hosted by MacEwen University, while the following day will see the Cascades face off against the University of Alberta.
Photographed: Tripat Sandhu
Image: UFV Flickr
