With their playoff hopes on the line and down to 10 men, it looked like the UNBC Timberwolves playoff hopes were done.
However, the ejection of striker Michael Henman (after a red card) was more than enough to light the spark for the T-Wolves men’s soccer team to cap off a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Fraser Valley Cascades at Masich Place Stadium on Sunday.
A penalty kick goal from Connor Lewis in the 74th minute followed by a well-timed header by rookie Koss Nystedt on a corner kick ten minutes later sent the raucous crowd, led by the Prince George Spruce Kings, who were in attendance, into a frenzy.
Fraser Valley meant business early on in the game, putting UNBC on its heels. Five minutes into the match, goalkeeper Daniel Zadravec made an enormous save with his right leg off UFV’s leading scorer Kian Proctor to keep things scoreless.
However, on the ensuing Bhagvir Sidhu corner kick, Michael Beecroft converted a header to put the Cascades up 1-0.
Soon after Fraser Valley added to its lead courtesy of Mateo Brazinha who found an opening up the middle after receiving a pass from Kian Proctor.
Brazinha held a dribble outside the penalty area and then wired home his second of the CW season.
The striker then waved to the Spruce Kings who were in the stands, as he along with Fraser Valley goalkeeper Jackson Cowx were the subjects of some playful jeering from the hockey club throughout the match.
The T-Wolves came out flying in the second half as Lewis raced down the right side of the pitch, took a slick feed from Gregor Smith, and rippled the onion bag past Cowx, scoring his first of two, trimming the deficit to 2-1.
MRS. LEWIS’S BABY BOY
Connor Lewis makes it a one goal game! pic.twitter.com/TAr9PAqUIy
— UNBC Timberwolves (@UNBCATHLETICS) October 15, 2023
UNBC earned a penalty kick in the 76th minute after a UFV handball, where Lewis wired home his second of the match by the diving Cowx to even the score at 2-2.
Then with four minutes remaining in regulation time, Wyatt Lyon placed a pristine crossing pass into the penalty area for Nystedt who delivered a perfect header into the net for his first Canada West goal to put the T-Wolves ahead for good.
What did we just witness? Koss Nystedt wins it!!!! pic.twitter.com/ScGEZxf3jT
— UNBC Timberwolves (@UNBCATHLETICS) October 16, 2023
UNBC improves to 4-7-2, keeping its playoff hopes alive heading into the final weekend. They travel to Kelowna to take on the UBC Okanagan Heat (3-9-0) on Saturday and Sunday at Noon.
The T-Wolves need to win both as well as a Thompson Rivers loss against MacEwan on Sunday to earn the final spot.
In women’s action, UNBC dropped a 5-0 decision at the hands of TRU to end its regular season with a mark of 0-13-1.
Ainsley Grether was the best player of the match for both sides, collecting two goals and one assist for the Wolfpack who ended the regular season with a 5-7-2 record.
Bella Geremia, Jocelyn Orr, and Kat Stewart also added singles for the Wolfpack.
Brityn Hinsche of Williams Lake made nine saves in defeat for the Timberwolves, who were outshot 22-5.