THE CARDIAC KIDS FROM THE CARIBOO.
What more can be said about the UNBC Men's Soccer team; the youngest program in the conference, who needed a win against the UBC Okanagan Heat to keep their Canada West playoff chances alive.
Down a goal at half, the TWolves used a Connor Lewis tally to draw even, and a Noah Ballinger goal in the 92nd minute to pull off the upset and earn an ultra-important 2-1 victory over the Heat on Saturday, October 21st, 2023 in Kelowna.
In the opening minutes, it was the Timberwolves creating the better opportunities, working the ball into some high-danger areas and testing the backline of the Heat. Playing without leading scorer Michael Henman, Steve Simonson's side was facing the prospect of needing a victory without the reigning Canada West Player of the Year in the active roster.
UBCO would gain some momentum and test UNBC keeper Daniel Zadravec on looks from Jacob York and Malachi Emerson, but the TWolves defenders did well to limit the chances and keep the sheet clean.
In the 25th minute, after working the ball in the UNBC box, it landed on the foot of Mark Perizzolo, who hammered the ball off the crossbar and into the net behind Zadravec, making it a 1-0 game for the home side.
In the 43rd minute, Kelowna product Gregor Smith took a pass from Charlie Stewart, settled it in the box and put a good shot on net with his left foot, but it was swallowed up by UBCO keeper Tyson Gugushe. When the referee blew his whistle, it was the Heat holding a 1-0 lead.
Whatever Simonson said to his team at halftime seemed to work. In the 47th minute, Isaac Tate sent a freekick towards the far post, finding the head of Connor Lewis. The Prince George product made no mistake, scoring his third goal in two games, knotting the game at 1-1 early in the second half.
In the 62nd minute, the Heat found themselves on the break, with the ball at the feet of talented forward Zack MacInnes. The diminutive speedster wound his way to the top of the box and tested Zadravec, but the senior netminder did well to make the save and limit any rebound opportunities.
UNBC continued to apply pressure as Isaac Tate's speed gave the Heat defenders trouble up the right wing, and the Timberwolves continued to pierce the UBCO midfield with threatening runs, but the score remained locked at 1-1 with 20 minutes to play.
In the 80th minute, Lewis sent a nifty ball over the defense, springing Tate in on Gugushe. The first-year volleyed it just wide of the post, as UNBC desperately went looking for a go-ahead goal to keep their playoff chances alive.
After Alberto Kuri saw his header sail just north of the crossbar, the Timberwolves looked to be out of time and opportunities.
But, cue the dramatics.
Substitute Noah Ballinger, who was a late sub in UNBC's comeback last week against the UFV Cascades, stepped up in his final weekend of regular season university soccer. A Tate corner kick bounced around in the box before finding the Victoria native who made no mistake, beating Gugushe and giving the Timberwolves the 2-1 lead.
The goal was the first of Ballinger's career, and stood as the game-winner, keeping the TWolves' playoff aspirations alive.
With one day left in the Canada West season, UNBC needs to win on Sunday to keep their chances alive. With a victory, and a TRU loss or draw against the MacEwan Griffins, the Timberwolves would qualify for the playoffs.
UNBC will take on UBCO on Sunday at 12 PM in Kelowna.
