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The UBC Okanagan Heat managed a split of their opening two weekend CIS Canada West women’s soccer games on the road, but it was a clean sweep when it came to putting a positive spin on their performances.
Following a 2-1 victory on Saturday against the Lethbridge Pronghorns, the Heat fell 6-2 to a masterful Calgary Dinos squad on Sunday.
Despite her team giving up the six goals on 19 shot attempts, Heat assistant coach Carli Tingstad insisted her team “played brilliantly.” She also indicated that the coaching staff was happy coming home with a split on a very tough opening road trip.
“You have got to be positive. The team has lots to build off of,” added Tingstad. “The Dinos had a game plan which allowed their style to thrive. and they executed today.”
Coming off a 10-0 drubbing of the Thompson Rivers WolfPack on Saturday, the offensively potent Dinos continued their assault against the Heat with three unanswered goals in the first half and made it 4-0 early in the second.
UBC Okanagan finally broke through and countered the Dinos' onslaught when Lauren Candelario of Hawaii scored off a set piece in the 55th minute. Maya Bandy of Vernon scored the second Heat goal with 10 minutes left in the match off a nifty setup from sophomore teammate Ally Ferronato.
On Saturday, Kelowna Secondary School graduate, Courtney Hemmerling, was rewarded for her hard work with less than five minutes remaining by scoring the winning goal against the host Pronghorns, who had jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a goal by Joella Koblischke.
But the Heat pulled even in the 27th minute when a clearing attempt by Pronghorns’ goalkeeper Page Gattafoni ricocheted off onrushing Heat forward Cassie Bratton into the back of the net.
Stats were fairly even across the board as the ’Horns finished the game with 16 shot attempts and four corner kicks compared to the Heat’s nine shot attempts and six corners.
Again, Heat coach Tingstad praised her team’s efforts.
"Coming back from being 1-0 down to win was something special. I don't think they have done that before. They stuck to the game model and played our systems.
"We had some spectacular moments in possession and building up out of the back. Both our goals were off of forwards pressuring the ball. It was a good example of players executing that part of their defensive system well.”
UBCO (1-1) will plays its home opener on Saturday against the University of Northern B.C. Timberwolves (0-2) beginnin at 1 p.m. on Nonis Field. The Heat will play host to the University of Alberta Pandas (1-0-1) on Sunday, also starting at 1 p.m.
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