Abbotsford, BC –  Jackson Cowx kept the UFV Cascades net empty, while Kevin Mailand and Ebi Igali got on the scoresheet to see the UFV Cascades finish off the weekend sweep of the UNBC Timberwolves on Sunday afternoon at Rotary Stadium.

How it happened:
Cowx's best save of the game came in the 25^th minute, as Mehdi Bounaaja got on the end of a cross, but the fifth-year keeper flashed out the right arm to make the stop and keep the game scoreless.

Mailand put the Cascades ahead in the 42^nd minute. After a Mateo Brazinha chance was stopped, Mailand picked the pocket of the UNBC defender outside the box, and perfectly placed a shot into the bottom corner.
 

MSOC | Kevin Mailand with his first of the year to put UFV up 1-0!#weclimbweconquer #rallyforthevalley pic.twitter.com/5bqlUCMcLG

— UFV Cascades (@UFVCascades) August 25, 2024

Igali gave the Cascades the insurance marker in the 85^th minute, as he finished off a brilliant play from Brazinha who beat his defender and cut it back for the rookie to slide it home. 
 

MSOC | Ebi Igali's first career @CanadaWest goal, and Mateo Brazinha picks up his fifth point of the weekend with the assist! pic.twitter.com/avrvjw5JS8

— UFV Cascades (@UFVCascades) August 25, 2024

Despite going down to 10 men in the 90^th minute when Igali was sent off for a challenge at midfield, the Cascades closed out the match 2-0 to finish off the opening weekend sweep.

Notable:
Brazinha's assist was his second of the young season, and fifth point through two games, to put him in a tie for the Canada West lead in both assists and points.

Igali's 85^th minute goal was the first of his Canada West career.

With two wins in the opening weekend, the Cascades men's soccer program has their best start to a Canada West season since 2016.

Quotable:
UFV goalkeeper Jackson Cowx

"It's a great feeling. I think our resilience to bounce back after last season, from the spring to now, we're able to put in full 90 minute efforts like today."

Cowx on conceding just one goal through two games:
"It feels great. It's not just me, it's our whole back line and our midfield. It starts from the front, so I think it's more of a team accomplishment. It's a great start to our season, and hopefully we can carry it on.

UFV head coach Tom Lowndes

"It's great to get off to a good start. To get six points in the opening weekend is huge, and hopefully something we can build on going into two tough games next weekend."

Lowndes on the upcoming games against UBCO and Thompson Rivers:
"They are always tough places to go, and two very disciplined teams. It's always a battle up there, and two teams that are going to be fighting to get into the playoffs, hopefully along with us, so we are just going to stick to the plan and do the things that made us successful this week."

Next Up:
The Cascades head on the road for a pair of matches next weekend against the UBC Okanagan Heat on Friday and Thompson Rivers University WolfPack on Saturday. The games are scheduled for 6:30pm and 7:00pm respectively, and can be streamed live on canadawest.tv.

To keep up with all the action follow the Cascades on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter at @ufvcascades