The Kamloops Heat U-21 men remain unbeaten, after posting a 1-1 draw with West Van FC at McArthur Island on Saturday.
The Heat, playing in the Pacific Coast Soccer League’s reserve division, now has four victories and two draws in six outings. West Van is 2-2-3.
After a scoreless first half, the Heat got on the board when Jacob Kaay, who plays for the TRU WolfPack, came on to replace Anvil Deo and flipped a pass in the midfield to Darren Dinsdale. Dinsdale, who red-shirted for TRU in 2011, scored to give the Heat a 1-0 lead.
With about 20 minutes left in the game, West Van took advantage of a Heat defensive lapse and was able to beat goalkeeper Allan Connor.
The Heat came close to winning it 10 minutes later when Justin Wallace, the NCAA Division III newcomer of the year with the Simon Fraser Clan last season, rang one off a post.
“We played pretty well as a unit,” said Heat co-coach Sean Wallace, who handles the same duties at TRU. “Especially after we lost Can Lanuk with a possible shoulder problem.”
The Heat welcomed back former WolfPack midfielder/forward Seb Gardner of Vernon. He filled in as a few players had work commitments. Gardner was playing despite preparing for his last chemotherapy treatment as he fights lymphoma.
The Heat next plays Friday when it is scheduled to play TSS Academy at Hillside Stadium. Game time is 7 p.m.
Prior to the game, the Friends of Errol Wild presented $2,500 to the Heat. Wild was a former WolfPack men’s soccer manager and long-time supporter of local soccer. In his memory, the Friends of Errol Wild sponsor a number of events to raise money for scholarships at TRU and for community projects.
