Abbotsford, BC – Mateo Brazinha and the UFV Cascades men's soccer team opened their 2024 campaign in style as they ran away with a 4-1 victory over the UNBC Timberwolves on Friday night in Abbotsford. 

Brazinha provided an offensive spark early and often for UFV as he scored three of the Cascades goals on the night, and turned provider for the other tally.

How it happened:
Brazinha opened his 2024 account early, scoring the first goal of the 2024 Canada West season in just the fifth minute. The Cascades' striker took advantage of a UNBC mistake at the back, and slotted it home into the bottom left corner of the net.
 

MSOC | The first goal of the CW season goes to.....Mateo Brazinha!!

The third year forward from Port Coquitlam gives the @UFVCascades a dream start just five minutes in ???#CWSoccer x @USPORTSca pic.twitter.com/tPdw0LRiDV

— Canada West (@CanadaWest) August 24, 2024

UFV continued to pour on the pressure, and it was Brazinha once again who struck just before the half time whistle. After a long ball forward from Kevin Mailand found Brazinha's feet, he beat his defender off the left wing and with only the keeper to beat he made no mistake.
 

MSOC | Brazinha Brazinha! ???

What a start for Mateo Brazinha! An early brace to give the @UFVCascades a 2-0 lead in their season opener.#CWSoccer x @USPORTSca pic.twitter.com/hiundo6Y4T

— Canada West (@CanadaWest) August 24, 2024

UNBC responded in the 63^rd minute, as Hagon Kim played a ball in to Connor Lewis, who deftly struck it past Cascades' keeper Jackson Cowx to pull his team within one. 

That would not last for long however, as Brazinha picked up a pass from Michael Beecroft on the left side and played a terrific ball across the six-yard box to rookie Joel Bangura who directed it into the goal with his chest just five minutes after entering the match.

Brazinha completed his hat trick, and sealed the victory, in the 72^nd minute. First-year midfielder Dante Colebourne found the striker at the top of the box, and he expertly slid it into the bottom right to make it 4-1.
 

MSOC Final | The Cascades come out with a huge victory on opening night.

3 goals for Mateo Brazinha, and a first career Canada West marker for Joel Bangura!#weclimbweconquer #rallyforthevalley pic.twitter.com/ilwQHkJQrs

— UFV Cascades (@UFVCascades) August 24, 2024

Notable:

• Brazinha's three-goal night moves him into a tie with Cascades' alum Colton O'Neill for ninth in program history with nine Canada West goals.
• Bangura's goal is the first of his Canada West career, while Colebourne's assist also marks his first career Canada West point.

Quotable:
UFV Striker Mateo Brazinha

"We definitely want to make sure we take advantage of this momentum going into Sunday. It's import for us to turn Rotary into a fortress, and make sure that people don't want to come here. From the top of the league to the bottom, you aren't going to want to come here and play us."

"This is a prestigious program, and I'm so happy I can put my name up there with the guys that have paved the way for me to even be able to play on this team", Brazinha noted on moving up the program record book.

UFV head coach Tom Lowndes

"We had a great preseason and scored some goals, but Canada West is a different beast and so to come in and score four goals… really happy with the result tonight."

"Clearly tonight [Brazinha] looked like a real handful. He was hungry for goals, his work rate is fantastic, so I'm really pleased for him and hopefully it's the first of many for the season."

Next Up:
The Cascades and Timberwolves renew acquaintances again on Sunday, with the match schedule to begin at 1pm at Rotary Stadium. The game can also be seen live on CanadaWest.TV.