It may have been wet at field level but that wasn’t enough to rain on the parade of the UNBC Timberwolves men’s soccer team.
Anthony Preston’s blistering boot in the 68th minute stood up as the game-winner giving the Timberwolves a dramatic 3-2 win at Masich Place Stadium, dispatching the previously undefeated Mount Royal Cougars (5-1).
“When I hit it, it felt good. I wasn’t trying to look up as I saw the goalie in the middle and I thought if I could put it into that left corner I had a pretty good chance of scoring and I struck it well so it felt good coming off the boot.”
POSTGAME: The game-winning goal came off the foot of @UNBCMSoccer‘s Anthony Preston in the 69th minute! Hear from the @UNBC sophomore about his team’s effort against the @MRUCougars! pic.twitter.com/yyjh2eeIZS
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) September 14, 2019
The tempo centered around speed and scoring chances as both teams went up and down the pitch at will in the first half.
Owen Stewart sent the home crowd of 600 fans into a frenzy after getting credit for the opening goal in the 30th minute where his shot attempt when off a Cougar defender and past goalkeeper Kyran Valley.
Mount Royal came back with a vengeance as Dawid Dudek slipped past UNBC goalkeeper Rob Goodey tying the game at 1-1.
First-year sensation Dane Domic put the Cougars in front for the only time in the game early in the second half.
However, the young UNBC squad showed grit and tenacity the rest of the game with players like Stu Rowlands and Reid Adams flying around the ball, only to see Rowlands tie up the game at 2-2 in the 55th minute finishing off a feed from Kensho Ando.
The victory improves UNBC’s record to 3-3-1.
Stewart believes a win over a quality opponent can set the tone for the rest of the regular season.
“It shows character, standings-wise we might not be 5-0 but we believe in our group, we believe in our individuals and we showed we had the quality to do it.”
Stewart along with seven other teammates were on the roster two seasons ago when UNBC upset the perennial power-house UBC Thunderbirds in a similar rain-soaked game 1-0 where the lone goal came off the boot of Rowlands.
So how does this win stack up to the one against the Thunderbirds?
“Home field is massive. As much as people think it isn’t or not as big of a factor in this league, it can be a huge advantage. When you looked at the crowd we had out tonight for the conditions we had and even though watching soccer in the rain can be tough just having the belief like we had in that UBC win is huge and it’s tough for teams to play here.”
POSTGAME: 4 points in the last 2 games for @OwenBStewart11, who we chatted with after a massive 3-2 @UNBCMSoccer win over the @mrumsoc! The @UNBC veteran talks @MRUCougars‘ ability, and the @UNBC effort in a rainy battle in PG! Watch!! pic.twitter.com/6cdfPmgqAD
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) September 14, 2019
The T-Wolves are back in action next Saturday (21st) and Sunday (22nd) in Edmonton against the Alberta Golden Bears (1-3-1) and MacEwan Griffins (1-3-1).
UNBC’s women’s soccer team (2-0) begins a two-game prairie road trip this afternoon in Saskatoon against the Saskatchewan Huskies (2-0) before wrapping up in Regina (1-1) on Sunday against the Cougars.