Two second half goals send UBCO Heat women to road loss to Cascades

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – UBC Okanagan fell to the Cascades and a rookie's game-breaking second half performance from Gurneet Dhaliwal as she powered her University of the Fraser Valley women’s soccer team to a 3-1 win over the Heat on Saturday evening.

Playing under a steady drizzle at Abbotsford Senior Secondary, rookie forward/midfielder Dhaliwal scored two goals in three minutes to snap a 1-1 tie and lift the unbeaten, CIS No. 7-ranked Cascades to their third straight win, Sept. 19.

UFV improved to 3-0-1 in Canada West play this season, while UBC Okanagan fell to 1-2-3.

Danica Kump gave UFV a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute on Saturday. Shelby Beck made a lung-busting run down the left flank, beating a couple UBC Okanagan defenders before cutting the ball back to the penalty spot. Jade Palm was first to the ball but her effort on goal was stopped by Heat keeper Joella Koblischke. Kump found the ricochet and slotted the ball into the middle of the net.

UBC Okanagan would come close to equalizing just minutes later, when midfielder Madelyn Ellis launched a shot off the crossbar from 25 yards. UFV keeper Kayla Klim reacted quickly to bring the ball down before Heat attackers could get to it.

The Heat’s equalizer would come just before halftime. First-year forward Ally Ferronato received the ball from Mairi Horth on the left side before launching the ball on goal and into the top corner on the far side. The goal was the first in the rookie forward from Calgary's Robert Thirsk's secondary's CIS career.

UBC Okanagan have scored six goals in their six conference games this season, Ferronato and Kaylin Ferguson, two rookies, have scored three of the six.

UFV retook the lead in the 66th minute courtesy of Dhaliwal. Kump played the ball from the right side through to Dhaliwal, who calmly chipped it over a charging Koblischke.

Dhaliwal’s second of the game came in quick succession. She again found herself in on goal in the 69th after a through pass from Brittney Zacharuk. Dhaliwal took a quick touch to settle the ball before slotting it into the left corner.

This coming week, the Cascades head to Edmonton to take on the University of Alberta Pandas on Friday, Sept. 25. Two days later, they visit Prince George to play the UNBC Timberwolves.

The Heat are at home next week, for their first time this season. After starting the year with six-straight matches on the road the Heat will play their home opener on Saturday when they face the UBC Thunderbirds, and then the get the  UVic Vikes at home on Sunday. Both games will be played on the Nonis Sports Field and will start at 2 p.m.

— with files from Russell Arbuthnot, UFV Cascades communications staff