KELOWNA, B.C. – Kyle Sohi's spectacular free kick goal just before halftime gave the UBC Thunderbirds a 2-1 victory over the UBC Okanagan Heat Saturday afternoon at Nonis Sports Field in Kelowna.
 
Victory Shumbusho's header opened the scoring in the 10th minute to give UBC (3-0) the lead, which last just five minutes as Okanagan (0-1) replied with a Christian Taylor goal.
 
The Thunderbirds remain perfect in league play with three wins in three contests. Saturday's game - played in scorching conditions - was the Canada West conference opener for the Heat.
 
"Winning games on the road in Canada West is never easy, so we are glad to get our three points and move on," said UBC head coach Mike Mosher. "Often on the road, you face some forms of adversities and today that was 33-degree heat on turf. I think we all prepared and dealt with that element well enough for today. Now the challenge is to be ready to do it again tomorrow against a good TRU team."

Sohi's goal – his second of the season – came in the final seconds of the first half. Standing in the middle of the field just outside the penalty area, he struck his shot just inside the left goalpost past a diving UBCO goalkeeper Carl Vandekraats for what turned out to be the game winner.
 

Here's the amazing Kyle Sohi free kick that gave @UBCMSoc a 2-1 lead at @UBCOHeat. Game now past the hour mark #GoBirdsGo ?? pic.twitter.com/rPReRU6L0e

— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) September 2, 2017

Shumbusho also recorded his second tally of the season Saturday. Zach Verhoven sent a cross from the right wing past the left post, where Mihai Hodut was able to re-direct the ball into the six-yard box. Shumbusho then leaned down to head the ball into the net.
 
Taylor evened the score just a short time later, with the assist going to Bret Depner.
 
Both teams had good chances right up to the final whistle.
 
In the 86th minute, UBCO's Taylor Piche found himself open in the right side of the penalty area but he fired his shot high above T-Bird 'keeper Chad Bush.
 
After being substituted back into the match, Sohi got another free kick opportunity in the 87th minute outside the box. His shot curled towards the left post but a diving Vandekraats turned it aside.
 
Then with the game approaching time added, Bush came out of his net to punch away a dangerous cross to preserve the UBC advantage, and improve his record to 3-0 in 2017.
 

??Our 3rd win of the season comes after a 2-1 victory over UBC Okanagan in the grueling heat. We travel today to Kamloops and rest up before facing this years National Championship hosts Thompson River University tomorrow afternoon. gobirdsgo UBC Soccer UBCO

A post shared by UBC Mens Soccer (@ubcmsoc) on Sep 2, 2017 at 6:31pm PDT

T-Birds had the edge in shots, finishing with eight on net, to four for the hosts. UBC had a 3-1 edge in corner kicks.
 
The T-Birds will face the Thompson Rivers WolfPack – hosts of the 2017 U SPORTS Men's Soccer Championship – in Kamloops, B.C., Sunday afternoon. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.