LANGLEY, British Columbia – In a battle for first place in the Pacific Division, the No. 4 Trinity Western women's soccer team earned a 2-0 win over No. 8 Alberta at Chase Office Field Friday.

Isabella Di Trocchio (Burnaby, B.C.) and Steph Chin (Calgary) scored for the Spartans (6-0-2) as they handed Alberta (4-1-2) its first loss of the season. The win extends TWU's regular season unbeaten streak to 21 games, dating back to 2015.

The Spartans opened the scoring in first half stoppage time when Di Trocchio tallied her third goal in as many games and fourth of the season. Midway through the second half, Chin added the insurance marker when she scored on a penalty in the 68th minute.

TWU's Ally Williamson (Langley, B.C.) made two saves, including a show-stopper late in the first half, for her sixth shutout of the season.
 
The win keeps the Spartans atop the Pacific Division, putting a six-point gap between them and the Pandas. Alberta has one game in hand.

"We showed some good signs out there and after opening a little slow, we managed to find our form," said Spartans coach Graham Roxburgh. "Ally Williamson was once again typical Ally Williamson. She wasn't always busy, but she had to sharp when called upon and her save late in the first half was fantastic. Amy Gartke (Edmonton) was really good tonight and Seina Kashima (Burnaby, B.C.) was once again strong in making runs and moving the ball really well."

After a closely contested first half, Di Trocchio opened the scoring just before the halftime whistle when she found a loose ball on a rebound just outside the six-yard box and headed it home.

TWU doubled its lead when Chin converted her penalty, which the Spartans earned after a Pandas handball in the box.

The Pandas nearly equalised late in the half when Alberta's Madison Szafranski put a shot on net, but Williamson tipped the ball over the bar.

TWU's Rachel Hutchinson (Cloverdale, B.C.), who was named the Canada West Female Second Star of the Week this past week, had a chance for the Spartans third goal of the night late in the second half, but her breakaway chance was stopped by Cassie Bazzarelli, who finished with four saves.

The Spartans are back on the pitch Saturday when they host UNBC at 5 p.m. Alberta will take on Fraser Valley Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

Game Notes: The Spartans were playing without starting centre back Brooklyn Tidder (White Rock, B.C.), who was forced to sit out due to yellow card accumulation…prior to Alberta's 3-2 win over UBC last weekend, the Pandas hadn't allowed a goal over their first give games…Alberta has now given up four goals in its last two outings.

-TW-