LANGLEY, British Columbia – The Trinity Western Spartans used goals from midfielder Kat Chin (Calgary) and rookie midfielder Taylor Bubnick (Saskatoon) and a four save shutout by fourth year keeper Christina Oliverio (Calgary) to defeat the visiting Western Washington Vikings 2-0 Tuesday night at Chase Office Field at TWU. The victory keeps the Spartans unbeaten in preseason play with a record of 2-0-2.
Oliverio made four saves to earn the win, while WWU's Ashlee Homer made seven saves in the loss.
The match was fast paced and saw each team with a number of quality chances. The Spartans would end the night with a 19-14 edge in total shots and a 9-4 edge in shots on target.
The Vikings controlled the play early on and forced the Spartans' Oliverio into making two fine saves from in close to keep the visitors from Bellingham, Wash. off of the score sheet. The Vikings peppered the Spartans with six shots in the seven minutes to keep TWU on the defensive.
The Spartans started to gather momentum as the half progressed. TWU was awarded a corner kick in the 42nd minute, after a sprawling save by the Vikings Ashley Homer off of a Seina Kashima (3rd yr, forward, Burnaby, B.C.) shot. Fifth year midfielder Stephanie Chin (Calgary) took the corner and found her sister Kat Chin at the top near corner of the box. The third year midfielder volleyed the ball past Homer to put TWU on the board just into the 43rd minute.
Western Washington would end the half with a 9-8 edge in total shots, and a 7-3 edge in corner kicks.
Early in the second half Western Washington's Caitlyn Jobanek almost got the equalizer in the 50th minute. The Vikings midfielder got space at the top left of the TWU box. She sent a hard shot to the far post past the outstretched hand of Oliverio. But the shot was just off the mark as it went off of the post and out of play.
The Spartans had the better chances in the second half and Bubnick got the insurance goal, and earned her first goal as a Spartan, in the 77th minute. TWU's Nicole Bolder (2nd year, midfielder, Calgary) set up the goal when she beat the outside right back and sent a ball to a wide open Bubnick just outside the top of the penalty area. Bubnick took a touch and slotted the ball into the top left corner of the Vikings net to give the Spartans a 2-0 lead.
Both teams would have a couple of scoring opportunities in the final 14 minutes, but the score would remain 2-0 for TWU as the final whistle blew.
TWU will continue their preseason play Thursday when they host Portland's Concordia University. Match time is set for 7 p.m. at TWU's Chase Office Field.
The Spartans open up Canada West conference play on Friday, September 2 in Abbotsford, B.C. against the Fraser Valley Cascades. TWU's Canada West home opener is on Friday, September 16 when they will host the Victoria Vikes.
Match notes: TWU had seven corner kicks, while WWU had eight…WWU keeper Hillary O'Connor played the final 18 minutes for the Vikings.
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