Kelowna, BC – The University of Victoria men's soccer team grabbed its first win of the year, defeating the UBCO Heat 4-0 on August 29 at Nonis Sports Field.
Victoria found the back of the net for the first goal of the season.
- In the 21st minute, Jack Napier-Ganley fed a beautiful pass through the box to a cutting Evan Larson, who buried the Vikes' first goal of the season. Victoria's fast start was rewarded as Larson's marker gave the Vikes a quick 1-0 lead.
- Persistent pressure paid off as Evan Larson broke through the Heat's backline, streaking towards the goal with only one defender to beat. Larson feathered a pass across the box to Felipe Morales Moya for a tap-in goal. Moya's first goal in blue and gold put the Vikes ahead 2-0 just before extra time in the first half.
- The first half was all Victoria as they found the target eight times, while Callum Weir saved each Heat opportunity.
The Vikes stayed on the front foot in the second half, and Weir finished off a clean sheet.
- Victoria carried over the pressure into the second half, creating several chances and keeping UBCO pinned in their own half.
- Late in the second half, Mattheus Achadinha created a turnover deep in the Heat's end. He turned this chance into a two-on-one rush, but smartly slowed play down and found Jag Zaharia coming in late for a point-blank opportunity that Zaharia made no mistake with.
- Before the Heat could find their composure after the Vikes' third goal, Mattheus Achadinha and Jag Zaharia connected again with a long through ball from Achadinha to the streaking Zaharia. The quality pass propelled Zaharia into a rush against multiple Heat defenders. Zaharia blasted a shot from just inside the 18-yard box and into the top corner, leaving the stadium stunned. Zaharia's back-to-back goals secured the Vikes' 4-0 win.
- Callum Weir continued his stellar goalkeeping as he turned away any threat the Heat had, earning his first clean sheet of the season as the Vikes cruised to their first win.
Notables:
- The Vikes earned their first win of the season, finishing off their road trip 1-1-0, while UBCO fall to 0-2.
- Jag Zaharia recorded his first multi-goal game as a Vike, doubling his career total of goals from two to four.
- In his first start as a Vike, Felipe Morales Moya recorded his first career Canada West goal.
The Vikes will return to action as they host Thompson Rivers for the annual Thunderfest game and home opener on Sep. 11 at 5 p.m. at Centennial Stadium.
