When the final whistle sounded, the UNBC Timberwolves took another big step forward in the quest for a possible home playoff game in Canada West soccer.
Clutch goals from Michael Henman and Cody Gysbers led the T-Wolves to a gritty 2-1 victory over the UBC Thunderbirds in Vancouver on Friday – the seventh ranked team in the nation.
In the 37th minute, Henman twisted a UBC defender around and ripped a shot from long range that handcuffed Axel Thulin Lunnesli for a 1-0 lead.
THE MAILMAN
Michael Henman with his….16th of the @CanadaWest season. @UNBCMSoccer up 1-0 pic.twitter.com/3ZReYeOgl8
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) October 1, 2022
Before the half, Henman was tackled inside the Thunderbirds box, which led to a penalty kick. Gysbers made no mistake, thumping it past Lennseli.
UBC finally rippled the onion bag in the 70th minute as Victory Shumbusho beat Daniel Zadravec to cut the lead to 2-1.
With the win, UNBC improves to 6-4-1, while the Thunderbirds fall to 5-3. The two sides clash again tonight in Vancouver.
In women’s action, Paige Payne played the hero for UNBC scoring twice in a 2-0 decision over the Fraser Valley Cascades in Abbotsford.
In the 16th minute, Kalista Kirkness won a ball near midfield and sent it into Payne, who did the rest, creating separation and beating Cascades goalkeeper Joven Sandhu with a low shot just inside the post.
PP10 does it again!!!
Paige Payne buries it in the 16th minute to give @UNBCWSoccer a 1-0 lead on the @UFVCascades!
Payne's 5th of the @CanadaWest season! pic.twitter.com/D1iangpGgT
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) October 1, 2022
Late in the half, Hannah Emmond found Payne at the top of the box, blasting it from 18 yards out and beating Sandhu for her sixth of the campaign.
With the win, UNBC improves to 3-5-1 while Fraser Valley falls to 0-4-5. The Timberwolves take on Trinity Western today (Saturday) at 5pm in Langley.
Beautifulllll football ends up with a clinical Paige Payne finish, making it 2-0 @UNBCWSoccer! pic.twitter.com/MIlHovGCAG
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) October 1, 2022