Mackenzie Cole's goal was the difference as the UBC Thunderbirds edged the UFV Cascades in Canada West men's soccer action on Friday evening at Rotary Stadium.
In a relentlessly physical contest that featured a combined 11 yellow cards between the two teams – yet all to different individuals, and thus no ejections – a brilliant pass from UBC's Nick Fussell sprung Cole for the game-winner in the 54th minute.Â
The Cascades (0-3-2), try as they might, were unable to net the equalizer, and will seek a measure of revenge on Sunday when they meet the U SPORTS No. 9-ranked T-Birds (2-0-3) once again (3 p.m., Rotary Stadium).Â
"A lapse of concentration for 30 seconds, a ball down the side of us – we've made a mistake, and they've punished us for it," UFV head coach
Tom Lowndes noted afterward. "That's what good teams do.Â
"They were clinical with that chance, and they've had another chance at the end, but I thought we defended very, very well for massive parts of the game. I thought we were solid, compact, organized, difficult to break down, and had great hunger and desire.Â
"Just that one opportunity where they've scored, and we didn't take ours."
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The Cascades had the better of the chances in the first half –
Mikael Mainella had a good look early on a dangerous foray, but his shot was blocked by a pair of UBC defenders. Later on, in the 39th minute,
Manpal Brar took a crack from well outside the box and beat T-Birds keeper Bennett McKay, but his shot hit the junction of the post and the crossbar and stayed out.
At the other end, UBC generated a handful of promising crosses, but UFV keeper
Jackson Cowx handled them with ease.
In the 54th, an outstanding pass from Fussell, deep in the midfield, threaded the needle through multiple layers of the UFV defence and found Cole in stride. He chipped the ball past an on-rushing Cowx.
Jun Won Choi, back in the Cascades' lineup for the first time since 2018, and
David Parfett gave the Cascades great energy as they pushed for the equalizer down the stretch, but despite putting pressure on the visitors, they were unable to connect.Â
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"Obviously they (UBC) are one of the top programs in Canada West and nationally," Lowndes noted. "But the boys have stepped up, and we always compete, always give them a battle.Â
"I love this team. I can't say enough about this team, and I can't say how lucky I am to get to coach them and be involved, see the boys put the work in every day. For the work they've put in, they're not getting rewarded. It's a hard slog when you think you deserve more, and I know we deserve more. But just a fantastic group to work with, and I couldn't be prouder of the effort tonight and I couldn't be prouder to be their coach."
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