The UBC Okanagan men's soccer team starts conference play with a home game against the UNBC Timberwolves tonight.

Kickoff is at 5:30 pm at Nonis Field and the two teams will square off again at the same time and same place on Saturday.

Here's what you need to know about the matchup!

Preseason:

• The Heat played four times as a tuneup this August and was able to turn up the offensive production to close out the preseason. After a loss and a draw in early August, the Heat scored 10 goals in two wins this past weekend, against American schools.
• This past Friday (Aug 16) saw the team score a (3-0) win over Whatcom College, and in the final preseason contest Sunday (Aug 18), the Heat slammed Skagit Valley (7-0).
• On August 9, in their first action of the year, the Heat fell (2-1) to TRU on a neutral field. August 11 UBCO played Langara to a draw (1-1).

Returning pieces:

• UBCO return 10 of 11 starters from last year's team including their top three goal scorers. Luke Warkentin (5), Hamish Walde (3), and Corbin Beauchemin (2).
• Keeper Nicholas Reitsma, who started all 16 matches last year, is also back. He had three shutouts last season and 66 saves.
• Former Canada West All-Rookie team member, Sam Mcdonald, is back for his third season. The Kelowna back-liner will continue to be a presence of the defensive core of the Heat.

New faces:

• A strong recruiting class for head coach Dante Zanatta has already provided some much-needed offense in the preseason.
• Pierson Stanley, a first-year striker from North Vancouver, scored four goals over the weekend, two in each match in Washington.
• Jacob York and Mark Lawrance, two other first-year players, also scored during the two matches on the past road trip.
• Giuliano Montagliani, another rookie, assisted on one of Stanley's goals in the Friday match versus Whatcom.

Scouting UNBC

Last Season:

• The Timberwolves graduated ten players in 2018, losing a significant crop of contributors from last season's program record five-win team.
• Just missing last year's playoffs the Timberwolves finished the season at (5W-4L-6D).

Player to watch:

• Between the pipes, incumbent keeper Rob Goodey is the lone starter back with UNBC. Last season he registered 83 saves.
• In two matches against UBCO last season he did not allow a goal.

Head to head with the Timberwolves: (3W - 5L - 4T)

• In last season's action between these two teams, in Prince George, they played to a (0-0) draw and a (0-1) loss for the Heat. The loss last October eliminated any chance for UBCO to make the Canada West postseason.