LANGLEY, B.C. – Fraser Valley's Gurmaan Jhaj and Trevor Zannatta scored goals just over three minutes apart in the second half to lift the Cascades to a 3-2 comeback win over Trinity Western Friday at Chase Office Field. 

After the Spartans took a 2-1 lead on first-half goals by Cody Fransen (Lynden, Wash.) and Jake Ruby (North Vancouver, B.C.), the home side looked in control in the second half, but an impressive response from the Cascades sparked a furious 10-minute window that resulted in back-to-back goals in the 73rd and 76th minutes. 

The Spartans pushed back for the equalizer, forcing UFV goalie Ethan Duggan to make a game-saving stop on Jacob Low (Port Moody, B.C.) in second-half stoppage time, but TWU was unable to bring the game back to even terms.

UFV's Jehmrode Kahlon opened the scoring in the ninth minute. 

Spartans goalie Sebastian Colyn (Langley) made one save in the loss, while Duggan earned the win with a three-save performance. 

The loss drops TWU to 7-5-1 on the season, while the win improves UFV to 4-4-4. 

Against the early run of play in the first half, Kahlon capitalized on a Spartans turnover and blasted a shot past Colyn from 25 yards out, beating the TWU netminder to the low left corner. 

Just over three minutes later, in the 11th minute, Fransen responded for TWU, taking a pass from Low and ripping home an offering from just inside the box. 

First-year Spartan Ruby then notched his first goal with TWU in the 28th minute when he headed in a cross off a free kick from Tristan Torreson (North Vancouver, B.C.).

The score line remained in TWU's favour until a flury of Cascades pressure midway through the second half led to Jhaj's 73rd-minute goal. After the Spartans failed to clear a UFV corner kick, Jhaj buried his chance from 10 yards out. 

In the 76th minute, Zannatta then sealed the win, taking a ball inside the box and slotting his shot past Colyn. 

QUOTABLE
TWU Coach Mike Shearon
"I'm really disappointed in the game today. I don't want to take anything away from Fraser Valley today and what they did tonight. They played with heart and passion and they are fighting hard for a playoff spot and ultimately won the game. From our perspective I thought we really weren't any good. In a lot of moments I thought we were really average and in a game that means a lot you really can't come out and play that way."
 
NOTABLE
•    The Spartans are 16-12-2 all-time against UFV.
•    TWU is now 6-2-1 over their last nine games.
•    Prior to Friday's loss, TWU had won four of its last five meetings with the Cascades. 
•    Fransen's goal was his team-leading sixth goal of the season. 

NEXT UP
The Spartans and Cascades are back at it Sunday in Abbotsford (Oct. 13), as TWU heads to UFV for a rematch. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. (PT).
 
About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 11 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, cross country and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes in the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) in men's hockey and as an independent team in men's rugby. The men's and women's hockey programs will begin playing in Canada West and U SPORTS in 2020-21. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 12 U SPORTS team championships and 27 Canada West team championships and two BCIHL championships.
 
-TW-