PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – The Trinity Western Spartans showed why they're the top-ranked team in U SPORTS, topping the University of Northern British Columbia Timberwolves 5-2 on Friday night.
 
Despite a gritty effort from a TWolves side playing at home, the Spartans used three second-half goals to stretch their record to a conference-best 8-0-1 and extend their winning streak to eight games.
 
TWU struck just nine minutes into the game, when Kathryn Harvey (Coquitlam, B.C.) scored, converting a Rachel Hutchinson (Cloverdale, B.C.) cross that was flicked on by Gabi Short (Calgary). The goal was her fifth of the season.
 
The TWolves responded later in the half, when Jenna Wild and Sofia Jones played give-and-go, springing the San Francisco native, who beat goalkeeper Hannah Miller (Langley, B.C.) from 10 yards out. The goal was the third of the season for the speedy third-year.
 
UNBC looked to be heading to halftime with a 1-1 score, until TWU was awarded a free kick from the top of the box. Spartans captain Jenaya Robertson (Delta, B.C.) made no mistake, bending it around the wall and past an outstretched Doyle for her sixth goal of the campaign.
 
In the second half, the ultra-athletic Spartans continued to hem UNBC in with their speed, creating a number of chances that Doyle did well to turn away. However, in the 60th minute, the Spartans were rewarded after some sustained pressure. After some scrambly play in the box, the ball came out to Kristen Sakaki (Surrey, B.C.), who hammered it with her left foot, finding mesh for her first goal of the season.
 
The TWolves showed great resolve after going down three goals, and just four minutes after the Sakaki marker, UNBC's Paige Payne got on the board. The forward, who was playing defense because of injuries, weaved her way to the 28-yard mark and crushed it top corner, beating Miller.

That's as close as the Timberwolves would come, however, and Hutchinson put the exclamation mark on the TWU victory, scoring on a free kick from 30 yards out, on a ball that fooled Doyle.
 
When the final whistle blew, shots on goal favoured the visitors 12-5.

The defeat drops the Timberwolves Canada West record to an even 3-3-3.
 
QUOTABLE
TWU Coach Graham Roxburgh
"I was really pleased with how we managed the game. I thought UNBC was very good at times and made it very difficult on us by just how calm they were on the ball and how they kept possession. Sometimes our press didn't work but in the end we scored a few wonderful goals.

"After we conceded, Jenaya had an unbelievable free kick and for me that was the tell-tale moment of the game because it settled us down and gave us a lead at halftime. We started the second half really well. We were wise in how we played and good in possession. UNBC is an up-and-coming team and I was really impressed with them, but in the end I thought athleticism and our passing ability and our game poise maybe made the difference tonight. It was a good road win against a stingy team.

"We had really good performances from all three midfielders – Syd (Duquette, Winnipeg), Sierra (Halldorson, Winnipeg) and Jenaya – and I thought our front three put in a ton of work in terms of covering the field and making it difficult for them."

Kristen Sakaki (Surrey, B.C.) – TWU Defender
"I think the Timberwolves gave us a hard-fought battle. They made us work for that win. As a team we stayed in the battle, stayed in the fight, and ultimately came through with our goals. We are thankful, for sure."

NOTABLE
•    The Spartans are now 9-0 all-time against UNBC.
•    The last time TWU was in Prince George, the Spartans walked away with a 3-0 win.
•    The Spartans have now scored five goals in three different outings this year, previously beating Winnipeg 5-1 (Sept. 13) and Manitoba 5-0 (Sept. 14).
•    The only points TWU has dropped this year was in a season-opening scoreless draw with UBC.

NEXT UP
The Spartans will now travel to Calgary (7-0-2) to take on the Dinos Sunday at 12 p.m. (MT) in a battle between the last two remaining unbeaten teams in Canada West.

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.

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