After dropping two straight to the TWU Spartans last week, the UFV Cascades got back to their winning ways on Friday and Saturday.
The Cascades posted wins over the visiting Manitoba Bisons and Winnipeg Wesman to end a slide that saw them lose three of their past four.
UFV jumped out to a 3-0 lead over the Bisons on Friday, with goals from Monika Levarsky, Shelby Beck, and Tristan Corneil. Manitoba scored a goal late in the first half and added another in the 85th minute to make it a 3-2 final.
The Cascades then feasted on the Wesman on Saturday, crushing them 6-1.
Brittany Zacharuk (two), Danica Kump, Levarsky, Gurneet Dhaliwal and an own goal fuelled UFV’s offence. The game was also the final regular season home game for graduating seniors Jade Palm, Dayle Jeras and Shelby Beck.
“It was emotional, but I tried not to let the emotions get the best of me,” Beck said afterward, reflecting on her senior night. “I really wanted to be strong for the team, and come out as a team and just kill it like we did.
“I’m hoping that we get high enough up (in the standings) so that it won’t be the last time playing on this field,” Beck added, alluding to the Cascades’ goal of hosting a playoff game. “But if it is, I’m glad it ended this way.”
Zacahruk was awarded the Canada West third star of the week for the two goals and three assists she compiled over the pair of wins. She has four goals and five assists over the season and is tied for eighth in conference scoring.
The Cascades improved to 8-3-1 on the season after the weekend, good for third place in the West Division. The women’s team wraps up its regular season schedule next weekend with a pair of road games against UBC on Friday and UVic on Saturday.
The men’s team, idle this weekend, also hit the road to play UBC and UVic to close out the season. The club has clinched a playoff spot but the results of the final two games will determine playoff seeding.