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The UBC Okanagan men's soccer team starts conference play with a home game against the UNBC Timberwolves tonight.

Kickoff is at 5:30 pm at Nonis Field and the two teams will square off again at the same time and same place on Saturday.

Here's what you need to know about the matchup!

Preseason:

The Heat played four times as a tuneup this August and was able to turn up the offensive production to close out the preseason. After a loss and a draw in early August, the Heat scored 10 goals in two wins this past weekend, against American schools.
This past Friday (Aug 16) saw the team score a (3-0) win over Whatcom College, and in the final preseason contest Sunday (Aug 18), the Heat slammed Skagit Valley (7-0).
On August 9, in their first action of the year, the Heat fell (2-1) to TRU on a neutral field. August 11 UBCO played Langara to a draw (1-1).

Returning pieces:

UBCO return 10 of 11 starters from last year's team including their top three goal scorers. Luke Warkentin (5), Hamish Walde (3), and Corbin Beauchemin (2).
Keeper Nicholas Reitsma, who started all 16 matches last year, is also back. He had three shutouts last season and 66 saves.
Former Canada West All-Rookie team member, Sam Mcdonald, is back for his third season. The Kelowna back-liner will continue to be a presence of the defensive core of the Heat.

A strong recruiting class for head coach Dante Zanatta has already provided some much-needed offense in the preseason.
Pierson Stanley, a first-year striker from North Vancouver, scored four goals over the weekend, two in each match in Washington.
Jacob York and Mark Lawrance, two other first-year players, also scored during the two matches on the past road trip.
Giuliano Montagliani, another rookie, assisted on one of Stanley's goals in the Friday match versus Whatcom.

The Timberwolves graduated ten players in 2018, losing a significant crop of contributors from last season's program record five-win team.
Just missing last year's playoffs the Timberwolves finished the season at (5W-4L-6D).

Between the pipes, incumbent keeper Rob Goodey is the lone starter back with UNBC. Last season he registered 83 saves.
In two matches against UBCO last season he did not allow a goal.

In last season's action between these two teams, in Prince George, they played to a (0-0) draw and a (0-1) loss for the Heat. The loss last October eliminated any chance for UBCO to make the Canada West postseason.

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