For the second time in this young season, Quest forward Laith Matlik delivered some late-stage heroics.
As he had during Week 1 against Capilano, the Saskatoon native booted home the tying goal in the game's dying moments to give the Kermodes men's soccer team a valuable single point against UBC-Okanagan on Sunday (Sept. 16).
It was a much-needed draw for Quest after dropping a 3-0 decision to Thompson Rivers University on Saturday (Sept. 15).
The chippy game on Saturday featured several yellow cards passed out to both teams but, Quest had no answer for Wolfpack goalie Travis Froehlich. Quest's Charles Impey did get a ball past Impey on a set piece in the first half, but the goal was disallowed because of an offside call.
The men's team record sits at two losses and two draws after two weeks.
Meanwhile, the Quest University Kermodes women's soccer team exacted a measure of revenge on Saturday (Sept. 15).
Quest toppled the defending Pacwest champion Thompson Rivers University (TRU) Wolfpack 1-0 on Saturday and the significance of the win wasn't lost on the winning goal scorer Jamey Horth.
"It was a little nerve wracking at times out there today, but this win really means a lot to us," Horth said. "We lost to them in the first round of the playoffs last year, so it's really nice for us to get this win."
The Kermodes gave TRU its toughest test in last year's playoff run, losing to the champs in a shootout in the first round. Saturday's game remained scoreless after the first half, with both team trading chances. Quest's Mari Tarleton rang a shot off the post 20 minutes into the game and Kermodes goalkeeper Taylor Shantz was up to the task on the other end.
The game turned in the second half when pinching Quest defender Madison Maloski sent a beautiful cross to the goal box and Horth tapped it home.
"The cross went over the top of the keeper's head and I saw it there," Horth said of the goal. "I used a little bit of aggression and managed to score. It was a really nice set-up by Maddie."
Horth is the only Squamish native on the women's team and said it was an honour to be named a co-captain for this year's squad.
"It means a lot to me," she said, noting it's her fourth year on the team. "It's nice that I get to represent Squamish on the team, but I feel like I can relate to a lot of the girls on the team and I think they look up to me in a way."
The women's team returned to the pitch on Sunday, dropping a 3-0 contest to UBC-O. The Heat scored in the first five minutes and then added two more in a 10-minute span just before the first half ended to pick up the win.
The men's and women's teams will hit the road this weekend (Sept. 22 and 23), taking on Douglas and Kwantlen, respectively.
For more information on Quest athletics, visit www.questkermodes.ca.
