The UNBC Timberwolves came roaring back from a two-goal deficit to limit the UFV Cascades to a 2-2 draw in Canada West men's soccer action on Friday evening in Abbotsford.

Playing at Abbotsford Senior Secondary, the Cascades (2-3-4) got an early jump on the visitors behind goals from Tobias Spiess and Trevor Zanatta. 

But the Timberwolves (1-4-4) got back into it on a goal by Michael Henman just before halftime, and a Cody Gysbers penalty kick in the 87th minute drew them level. 
The two teams wrap up the weekend series on Sunday afternoon (3 p.m., CanadaWest.tv presented by Co-op).

Afterward, Cascades head coach Tom Lowndes noted that the Henman goal just before half was deflating for his squad.

"It's a goal we should have done better with, in various different moments," Lowndes said "We've switched off, and given them some confidence going into halftime, instead of staying switched on and staying organized. 

"In the second half, we've created some chances, but I thought we sat too deep and allowed them to carry a lot of the play. In all honesty, 2-2, they (UNBC) will probably say they deserved more. The manner we conceded the goal is frustrating, the fact that it's so close to the end of the game is frustrating. But full credit to them. They deserved at least a tie."

The Cascades drew first blood in the 18th minute as Spiess, the big centre back from Nuremberg, Germany, came forward for a set piece deep in T-Wolves territory. David Parfett sent the ball in, Zanatta was at the back post to head it, and Spiess was there to tap it across the goal line. For Spiess, who has starred for the Cascades as a rookie, it was his first career goal, and Zanatta notched his Canada West-leading fifth assist.
 

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Zanatta got a goal of his own in the 38th. Spiess set a long ball ahead for Manpal Brar, who chested it down to the turf for Zanatta, whose low shot eluded UNBC keeper Daniel Zadravec. 

Meanwhile, at the opposite end of the pitch, UFV goalkeeper Jackson Cowx was standing tall – with Henman bearing down on him on a breakaway, Cowx lunged to his left to parry a rising blast.

Henman broke through in the 41st, though, giving his team new life as he scored off Kensho Ando's cross.

The T-Wolves continued to press in the second half, but it took them until the dying minutes to find the equalizer. Henman attempted to dribble into the box and was tripped up just as he entered, yielding a penalty kick for Gysbers who made no mistake.

UFV rookie winger Ajai Boparai had a good look at goal in injury time, but his blast went just over the crossbar.
 

???? | Cascades MSOC captain Ryan Donald reflects on tonight's 2-2 draw with @UNBCATHLETICS.#WeClimbWeConquer pic.twitter.com/KTu49k0CpW

— UFV Cascades (@UFVCascades) October 16, 2021

"My belief in the group doesn't change," Lowndes said. "Just because we've had a bad 45 minutes, doesn't mean we're a bad team or that all the things we've stressed in other games has gone out the window. I think we did stick together and battled. Was it pretty? No. Could we have been better? Yes. I think we put forth a good effort, but we could have been a lot tidier in the majority of areas on the pitch."

IN BRIEF: Sunday's game will feature a pregame ceremony for graduating Cascades Parfett, Ryan Donald, Jun Won Choi, and Nikhil Reddy.