As a team, the UBC Okanagan Heat men’s soccer squad narrowly missed out on the Canada West playoffs.
Still, three members of the Heat men’s soccer squad were recognized for their individual exploits during the 2017 regular season.
Third-year defender Hamish Walde was named to the conference’s first all-star team, keeper Mitch McCaw was named to the second all-star squad, while Sam McDonald earned a spot on the Canada West all-rookie team.
Walde started every conference match for the Heat while leading the team with four goals. One of the highlights of Walde’s season came when the defender scored in stoppage time to beat the Victoria Vikes 1-0 on UBCO’s home turf.
⚽️ | @UBCOHeat men's soccer's Hamish Walde named a First Team @CanadaWest All-Star
— UBCO Heat (@UBCOHeat) November 2, 2017
Congrats Hamish.https://t.co/SJVtZ1NdI5 pic.twitter.com/SIAUlysyn9
McCaw came into his final year with great expectations after a superb last season and didn’t disappoint. McCaw set a Canada West record for most consecutive minutes without conceding a goal (685), while also leading the conference in save percentage (.877). During the middle part of the season when McCaw was unbeatable, he stopped 22 consecutive shots including a seven-save performance on the road against the Calgary Dinos.
⚽️ | @UBCOHeat men's soccer's Mitch McCaw for the 2nd straight yr is a 2nd team @CanadaWest All-Star
— UBCO Heat (@UBCOHeat) November 2, 2017
Congrats Mitch.https://t.co/SJVtZ1NdI5 pic.twitter.com/LkR8H3ILN5
An OKM grad, McDonald helped lead a solid Heat defense that only conceded 11 goals all season and was second only to the Alberta Golden Bears.
The Kelowna native started 12 of 15 games, including eight straight starts during the Heat’s strong middle part of the season. His first-career goal for the team came on Sept. 9 against Trinity when he tied the game in the 63rd minute.
⚽️ | @UBCOHeat men's soccer place Sam McDonald on the @CanadaWest All-Rookie team.
— UBCO Heat (@UBCOHeat) November 2, 2017
Great season Sam.https://t.co/SJVtZ1vCjv pic.twitter.com/owPwxirFBm
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