SOC: UBC, TRU forwards make statements on opening weekend
Steer, Lewis earn CW Player of the Week honours
CALGARY – British Columbia's Danielle Steer and Thompson River's Ryan Lewis were named the Canada West Soccer Players of the Week by the conference on Tuesday.
Steer wasted little time in opening the scoring on a new season Friday. Just six minutes into the team's match at UFV, she found her way out of a cluster of defenders to head a free kick home.
Before the half was done, Steer notched her second of the game, needing little space or time to push past a defender and net one high over the goalkeeper on the short side.
She wasn't done there. Steer went on to get her hat trick minutes into the second half, putting her team up 6-0 in a dominant season opener. The fifth-year forward also posted assists on two of the team's goals, showing up everywhere on the field and the scoresheet.
The next night, in a nail-biting 1-0 game against the defending CW champs Trinity Western Spartans, Steer granted her team some assurance by streaking down the left side and placing a perfect shot into the back of the net off a well-placed pass from teammate Katalin Tolnai.
With the four goals on the weekend, Steer moves into a tie for seventh in all-time Canada West goals. She now has 36 in her career, 15 back of record holder Janine Frazao, who also played for UBC.
Her team's two wins set them up for the success many have envisioned for this UBC Thunderbird team. They'll be back in action Thursday, when they host Victoria at 7 p.m. PDT.
Game log:
Aug. 26: 3 goals, 2 assists, 6 shots, 6 SOG in 8-0 W at UFV
Aug. 27: 1 goal, 1 shot, 1 SOG in 2-0 W at TWU
Meanwhile, Ryan Lewis was looking to make a statement as his Thompson Rivers WolfPack drew the coaches' poll favourites, the UBC Thunderbirds, in the opening match of the season. In a scoreless game, Lewis found his way to a cross from teammate Marco Favaro, and headed it home to draw first blood. He tucked it right under the crossbar, giving the UBC goaltender no chance on the play.
The WolfPack went on to win the game 2-0, sparked by the Lewis goal. The second-year forward claimed his second of the weekend in his team's next game against Victoria. Early in the second half, he slipped through the box again to head a Jost Hausendorf feed into the corner of the net.
Lewis' second of the season was the WolfPack's second of the night, as they went on to defeat the Vikes 3-0.
Thompson Rivers will be back in action on Friday and Saturday when they hit the road to first visit Fraser Valley then Trinity Western. Those games are slated for 7 p.m. PDT and 7:15 PDT respectively.
Game log:
Aug. 26: 1 goal, 3 shots, 1 SOG in 2-0 W vs UBC
Aug. 27: 1 goal, 2 shots, 2 SOG in 3-0 W vs VIC