MSOC: Mejia, Richardson score as Cascades knock off Heat 2-1

Kelowna, BC - Goals from Ivan Mejia and Taylor Richardson helped propel the Cascades to a crucial three points over the UBCO Heat on Friday night.

With the win, the Cascades vault past the Heat into fifth place in the Pacific division at 3-4-1, while UBCO falls to 2-4-2 on the season.

UFV got off to a blistering start, as the ball fell to Mejia at the top of the box, and he lashed a volley into the bottom corner with his first touch.

??MSOC | Ivan Mejia Opens the scoring early in the first half for the Cascades!

?? @goUFV 1 
?? @UBCOHeat 0#weclimbweconquer pic.twitter.com/eT4hWXg97I
— UFV Cascades (@UFVCascades) October 1, 2022
 

The Cascades earned a penalty kick in the 16^th minute after a foul in the box, and Richardson stepped up making no mistake on the resulting penalty to score his third goal in two games.

??MSOC | 19' Taylor Richardson converts the PK, and the Cascades lead by two! ??????

?? @goUFV 2
?? @UBCOHeat 0#weclimbweconquer pic.twitter.com/jZuR6XlgQB
— UFV Cascades (@UFVCascades) October 1, 2022
 

UBCO pulled a goal back in the 68^th minute when Matteo Bigattini headed home a cross from Jacob York, but that was as close as they would get as UFV held on for the victory.

"We bent, but we didn't break. Explained UFV head coach Tom Lowndes post-game. "But anytime you can pick up three points in Canada West is a good night."

Mejia led the Cascades with three shots on goal, while Jackson Cowx made two saves for his team. Heat goalkeeper Ronan Woodroffe made a game-high six saves to keep his team in it.

"Taylor did well on the pen and Ivan got another goal, so they both did well attacking-wise" Lowndes noted. "As a team there are some things that we need to be better at as we head into a tough place tomorrow against an in-form team."

The Cascades are back in action on Saturday as they visit the Thompson Rivers Wolfpack (7 p.m. on canadawest.tv).