The University of the Fraser Valley women's soccer team flexed its offensive muscles on Friday evening, topping the Manitoba Bisons 4-2 on home-opening night at MRC Sports Complex.
Bryana Buttar,
Katie Lampen and
Tavia Jasper found the net for the Cascades (1-1-1) over a 16-minute stretch to end the first half, and
Simi Lehal rounded out the hosts' scoring outburst in the 62nd minute. Jessica Tsai and Stefanie Young replied for the Bisons (1-2-0).
Cascades senior winger
Brittney Zacharuk carved out a slice of program history, registering two assists on the night to give her 15 for her career and set a new all-time record for UFV women's soccer. The previous record-holders were Shelby Beck (2011-15) and Danica Kump (2012-16), who both finished their careers with 14 assists.
"A bit of a rough start," UFV head coach
Rob Giesbrecht said afterward, alluding to Tsai's goal in the sixth minute to open the scoring. "We get caught not communicating, and give them an opportunity to hit a long shot on goal which they do well with. I think we were a little surprised with that, and it took us a while to get going. But once we got going, we got confident and became more assertive, and it led to a couple goal-scoring chances for us."
Tsai broke the ice early on a Bisons counterattack, launching a shot from 35 yards out that arced over the head of Cascades goalkeeper
Joven Sandhu and dropped into the net.
Cascades rookie midfielder Buttar drew the hosts even in the 29th minute, willing her way to the ball on a scramble in the box and firing home a low shot.
Zacharuk set up the next two goals – in the 41st minute, her cross found rookie Lampen on the doorstep, and she used her upper body to deflect it home. In first-half added time, Zacharuk's free kick from the right wing found Jasper at the far post, and she slid in for the finish.
Lehal made it 4-1 in the 62nd, finishing from close range off a feed from
Kailyn Halvorson. Young, in the 90th minute, clawed back a goal for the Bisons but it was too little, too late.
Afterward, Giesbrecht noted the significance of Zacharuk's assists mark.
"She's been such a good servant to our program, and a consistent contributor," he said. "She's always been a threat to create goals and score goals, and she's definitely well worthy of being our assists leader."
Zacharuk, for her part, said that etching her name in the Cascades' record books was "something special." She also took over sole possession of second place on the team's Canada West-era career points list with 31, and is within striking distance of Monika Levarsky's record (36) in that category.
"It's a way just to help remember my career here at UFV," she said.
The Cascades are back in action at home on Saturday, hosting the Winnipeg Wesmen (5:30 p.m.,
CanadaWest.tv).
