The University of the Fraser Valley soccer teams, playing on their home turf, dismantled the UNBC Timberwolves on the weekend, combining to sweep four games.
The Cascades women got a pair of outstanding performances from Shelby Beck as they ran their record to 5-1 on the season. That leaves them with a Pacific Division-leading 15 points, though Trinity Western and Victoria (both 3-0-1) each have two games in hand.
On Friday at Abby Senior’s Panther Field, fourth-year striker Beck struck twice to lift the Cascades to a 2-1 victory. She was the team’s offensive engine once again in Saturday’s rematch, notching a goal and an assist in UFV’s thoroughly dominant 3-0 win. Monika Levarsky and Sunayna Samra scored once apiece, while backup keeper Emily Harold wasn’t required to make a single save en route to her first career victory and shutout.
Beck’s production earned her conference-wide recognition on Tuesday, as she was named Canada West’s first star of the week across all women’s sports.
“Shelby had an outstanding weekend,” said Cascades coach Rob Giesbrecht. “Her goal on Saturday was special, as she managed to pick the top corner from 35 yards out. Shelby has persevered to get herself physically ready to compete at the Canada West level and it’s great to see her now have the opportunity to showcase her outstanding attacking ability.”
The UFV men leveled their record at 3-3 with victories on Friday (3-1) and Saturday (2-1) over UNBC.
Connor MacMillan, Juan Pablo Mora Perea and Colton O’Neill scored in the opener, and Ryan Liddiard and Harry Owen did the damage in the rematch.
“I am delighted that we got six points this weekend,” said Cascades coach Alan Errington. “It’s a step in the right direction. I thought we played very well tonight, especially in the first half when we had a lot of chances we could have scored on. I thought both goals were very good. We dodged a couple of bullets, but I thought we deserved to win.”
The Cascades play at home again this weekend. On Friday they host the Thompson Rivers WolfPack, and on Saturday they welcome the UBC-Okanagan Heat (Panther Field, women 5 p.m., men 7:30 p.m. both nights).