Even bench players have a flare for the dramatic.
Hannah Emmond took the bull by the horns for the UNBC Timberwolves women’s soccer team on Friday night and proved to be the difference maker scoring the game-winner in the 70th minute securing a 1-0 victory over the Lethbridge Pronghorns at Masich Place Stadium.
“Sofia (Jones) was speedy up the wing so I thought I would drop back and I could be a back foreman and I ended up in the right spot and she made an awesome pass and I got a free shot off, which is pretty cool.”
This continues a bit of a hot streak for the third-year player out of Prince George who also rippled the onion bag with a beautiful bicycle kick goal during a 3-1 defeat last weekend against the Saskatchewan Huskies.
“My team is making really good through balls and at the end of the day, we just have to put it in the back of the net and if I can come on and do that, that’s pretty awesome as well,” added Emmond.
POSTGAME: With her second goal in three games, PG product @hannahemmond3 talks after her @UNBCWSoccer‘s 1-0 win over the @UofLPronghorns! pic.twitter.com/4Otkdjh9sT
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) September 21, 2019
The game began as a bit of a chess match with both teams not generating a lot of chances with a lot of tight-defensive plays being made by both sides.
UNBC discovered its offensive mojo late in the first half by using its team speed down the sideline getting around Pronghorn defenders on a regular basis, activating explosive players like Sofia Jones and Julia Babicz.
“They were really hard to breakdown through the centre and it was very hard for Paige and our tips to get through and we kind of got lost in there but once we started to open up on the outside we were able to get around more and get more balls through,” said Babicz.
As speedy as Babicz was on the offensive side of the ball, she was equally as tough taking a follow-through kick to the face in the first half followed by some hard contact off the leg.
With the win, the Timberwolves are 3-1-1 on the season, equaling their win total of 2018 after making the playoffs with a record of 3-8-3.
Babicz believes with the same group playing together for the past few seasons, the belief among all the players is steadily growing.
“I think we hold ourselves to a higher standard now but we’re buzzing, after a win we are buzzing and we will be that way until Sunday.”
The game was a bit of a sticky one on the injury front for UNBC as they lost Lydia Lavigne and Kenzie Chilcott to separate injuries in the first half.
T-Wolves goalkeeper Brooke Molby made nine saves in the win.
POSTGAME: After her second clean sheet of the season, @UNBCWSoccer goalkeeper Brooke Molby reflects on @unbc‘s 1-0 victory over @UofLPronghorns in @CanadaWest play! #gotwolves pic.twitter.com/x75CAtAwVV
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) September 21, 2019
UNBC sits fourth in the Pacific Division, while Lethbridge drops to 0-3-2.
The Timberwolves are back in action Sunday at noon against the Mount Royal Cougars (0-5) from Masich Place.
On the men’s side, UNBC plays a pair of road games in Edmonton.
First up is a date with the Alberta Golden Bears (1-4-1) today followed by a Sunday matinee against the MacEwan Griffins (1-3-2).