The UBC Okanagan Heat is a step closer to its first ever playoff berth in BCCAA women’s soccer after a pair of draws against the No. 4-ranked team in Canada.

The Heat played first-place Thompson Rivers University to 1-1 stalemates on Saturday at the Kelowna campus and again Sunday up in Kamloops.

With three games remaining, UBCO (5-2-2) is second in pool A with 15 points, four ahead of UNBC and five points ahead of fourth-place Kwantlen.

The top three teams in each pool will qualify for postseason play.

“I am very proud of the team’s efforts this weekend,” said UBCO coach Claire Paterson.

“Any time you can take points off the top team is fantastic. Now our focus is to finish out the season strong working hard to secure a playoff spot.”

On Saturday, after TRU opened the scoring 31 minutes in, Emma Nixon connected in the 81st minute for her first goal of the season to earn the tie for UBCO.

On Sunday in Kamloops, Alexa Kennedy headed home a cross from Jennifer Kidd in the 15th minute for a 1-0 Heat lead.

TRU evened the count on a penalty kick in the 35th minute.

The Wolfpack created several goal scoring chances in the second half that were turned away by Heat goal keeper Sabrina Gasparac and speedy centre back Hayley Uyeyama.

The Heat defended six corners and dug in to prevent the go-ahead goal. 

Heat men

The UBCO men kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a 0-0 draw against the No. 3-ranked Thompson Rivers Wolfpack on Sunday in Kamloops.

The tie gives the Heat (2-2-5) eight points, six behind UNBC for the third and final playoff spot in Group A of the BCCAA.

Keeper Spencer Brown made several key saves against TRU to earn his fourth clean sheet of the season.

“The guys showed a lot of heart today battling a great side for the entire 90 minutes today away from home against a top ranked school,” said Heat coach Justin Boersma.

“It was a great way to bounce back from Saturday’s loss and even more importantly, we proved to ourselves that we are able to compete against nationally ranked teams in our league.

“Spencer Brown single-handedly earned us a very important point today.”

On Saturday, in Kelowna, Thomas Simkins scored the Heat’s lone marker in a 3-1 loss to TRU.

This Saturday, the Heat will head to Prince George to play the UNBC Timberwolves.