Friday night under the lights in Abbotsford, the UNBC Timberwolves fell 4-0 to the host UFV Cascades. Despite the challenging road result, the relentless two-way work rate of Pipeijn van der Ende earned him Mr. Mikes Player of the Game honors after battling for the full 90 minutes.

The Cascades set the tone early with a high press, but UNBC goalkeeper Owen Shum was ready. In the opening minute, Shum aggressively charged out to shut down a UFV chance, and in the third minute, he delivered a spectacular double-save, denying a header and then scrambling to block the rebound attempt by Kevin Mailand. The Timberwolves quickly flipped the field and nearly took the lead. In the sixth minute, van der Ende unleashed a powerful strike that rattled off the crossbar, and Luis Hirsch followed up moments later with a shot that sailed just over the net.

UFV managed to break the deadlock in the 17th minute when Ebi Igali headed in a corner kick delivered by Marcus D'Andrea. Trailing 1-0, the Timberwolves dialed up their physicality. Hagon Kim was a force, setting a physical tone that led to a dangerous UNBC attack and a Luke Graham header that went just wide of the post in the 27th minute. Kim's hustle continued to frustrate the UFV attackers, forcing a fast break shot wide shortly after Igali was booked with a yellow card. 

Shum made another key save on Igali in the 38th minute, but the Cascades capitalized on a defensive press late in the half. UFV's Spencer Mellett finished off a feed from Mateo Brazinha in the 41st minute to double the lead. Right before the halftime whistle, Adam Korduner fired a sharp shot on target, but UFV goalkeeper Matheus de Souza made the save to send the game to the break at 2-0.

The aggressive pace continued into the second half. In the 54th minute, UFV was awarded a penalty kick, and Ryan Torressan stepped up to convert, extending the Cascades' advantage to 3-0.

Rather than back down, the Timberwolves continued to push the pace and string together passing sequences in the offensive third. The Timberwolves' pressure finally drew a foul inside the UFV penalty box in the 71st minute, awarding UNBC a penalty kick. Kim stepped up to take the shot, but narrowly missed the target.

UNBC kept fighting down the stretch, searching for a breakthrough. James Jordan fired a shot just wide right, and Charlie Beauvais tested de Souza with a strike in the 79th minute. UFV added a final insurance marker in the 81st minute when Nathan Cervo scored off an assist from Dante Colebourne. Beauvais generated one last quality shot on frame in the end moments, but de Souza was there to seal the result.

The Timberwolves have a quick turnaround as they conclude their weekend road trip tomorrow, September 19, when they travel to Langley to face the Trinity Western University (TWU) Spartans. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:15 PM.