The return of starting goalkeeper Rob Goodey gave the UNBC Timberwolves a bit of a lift on Sunday as they scratched and clawed to a scoreless draw against the UBC Thunderbirds from Masich Place Stadium.
The fourth-year netminder was spectacular in his first game back from injury stopping all nine Thunderbird shots he faced to earn a clean sheet.
“Obviously we want to get more than a tie but a point against UBC is a point gained, you always think every single year it’s not just us who thinks that it’s every team who thinks that so we’ll take it and move on and hopefully get 12 points in our last four games of the season,” said Goodey.
POSTGAME: After a brilliant nine-save, clean sheet performance, @UNBCMSoccer keeper @rgoodey01 talks about the battle with the @ubctbirds, his return from injury, and the play of the men in front of him. pic.twitter.com/aG16QJ1MKo
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) September 29, 2019
Goodey made a number of highlight reel saves over the course of the match, including two in the 20th minute robbing Jordan Haynes and Kerman Pannu.
Not to be outdone, the Timberwolves turned the tables on UNBC later on in the half with some prime scoring chances of their own, however, Hussein Behery and Michael Henman were both turned away by UBC goalkeeper Jason Roberts.
In the second half, the Thunderbirds had a golden opportunity to claim the lead courtesy of five corner kicks and a free kick inside the box but were all turned away by Goodey.
UNBC came within an eyelash of earning the victory when a Stu Rowlands centering attempt bounced off a Thunderbirds defender but was cleared out of the crease before crossing the line.
UBC came into the game as the fifth-ranked team in Canada according to the U-Sports Top Ten Men’s Soccer rankings.
After the game, UBC defender Jackson Farmer gave the Timberwolves full marks for their effort against them over the two games.
“I feel like they came to play and you could tell they were putting 100% effort to get a result as any team should but they were physical and those kinds of things made it a bit more difficult for us this weekend.”
POSTGAME: @ubcmsoc‘s @jacksonnfarmer talks about the 0-0 draw against the @UNBCMSoccer, and how the @ubctbirds are feeling heading towards the conference playoffs. pic.twitter.com/LYYxRePRyS
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) September 29, 2019
Aidan Way and Mitch Linley drew into the starting lineup for the T-Wolves due to the suspensions of Anthony Preston and Luke Brbot due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
“I think the frustration on the way we lost the game on Friday, we didn’t play poorly they beat us by one goal and two calls that didn’t go our way. Having that momentum from the last game coming into today (Sunday) even with the suspensions of two players in our starting lineup shows that we’re all fighting for each other and that we can play against the best just shows how good of a team we are and how far we’ve come,” added Goodey.
The Timberwolves are 4-5-2 on the season while the Thunderbirds are 6-1-2.
UNBC plays a pair of games in Langley Friday and Saturday against the Trinity Western Spartans (6-4-0).
In women’s action, the Timberwolves fell 1-0 on Saturday to the UBC Okanagan Heat.
Madi Doyle took the loss in net for the T-Wolves.
UNBC then battled to a scoreless draw on Sunday against the Thompson Rivers Wolfpack in Kamloops.
Brooke Molby earned a five-save shutout for UNBC who are now 3-2-3 on the season while the Wolfpack drop to 1-4-3.
The top six teams in the Pacific Division make the playoffs, the Timberwolves are currently in fourth spot.
The Timberwolves play their final two home games of the regular season Friday (6pm) and Sunday (Noon) against the Trinity Western Spartans (7-0-1) and the Fraser Valley Cascades (2-2-4).
POSTGAME: Hear from @UNBCWSoccer Head Coach @neilsedgwick5 after @UNBC‘s 0-0 draw with the @GoTRUWolfPack. Credit to TRU for the video and commitment to @CanadaWest coverage. https://t.co/BBgALPX5GD
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) September 30, 2019