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The UBC Okanagan Heat eventually fell short 3-0 against the UBC Thunderbirds in the quarter finals of the Canada West men's soccer playoffs.
The Thunderbirds were the heavy favourites, but the Heat held their own, especially in the first half. Third-year Heat defender Brandon McCallum had the first shot 13 minutes in, but it was just high of the crossbar. In the 27th minute, Thunderbird Chris Serban had a great curved shot, but Heat keeper Christopher Cuthill saved it.
(Photo Credit: UBC Okanagan)
The Thunderbirds didn't get their first goal until 37 minutes in, making it 1-0 after Cuthill fumbled the ball and midfielder Einarsson easily put it in the net.
“For the vast majority of the time, especially in the first half, we were the better team,” said Heat coach Dante Zanatta after the match. “Give them credit—they capitalized on a mistake. [But] I thought that if we would have got one in the first half … it could have been a different game.”
The Heat weren't about to give up, but the Thunderbirds' star sriker, Navid Mahinchi scored back-to-back goals 47 and 53 minutes in.
(Photo Credit: UBC Okanagan)
Despite the Thunderbirds' commanding 3-0 lead, the Heat kept up their game. “Our guys played very well,” Zanatta said. “And even late in the game I was very happy and impressed that they continued to try and play and go forward. At three-nothing in the game they could have packed it in, but they had better scoring chances later in the game.”
This was the Heat's first season in the major league, so making it even to the quarter finals is an achievement.
The Thunderbirds will advance to the next round, the Canada West Final Four.
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