LANGLEY, B.C. – Brooklyn Tidder (White Rock, B.C.) headed a go-ahead goal in the 76th minute to lead the No. 2-ranked Trinity Western Spartans to a 2-0 win over the visiting UBC Thunderbirds at Chase Office Field.

Kathryn Harvey (Coquitlam, B.C.) also scored for TWU in the 85th minute to secure a critical mid-season win over rival UBC., while goalkeeper Hannah Miller (Langley) made three saves.

TWU improved it's overall record to 7-0-1. Since a scoreless season-opening draw with UBC, the Spartans have won seven straight games. UBC's record dropped to 4-1-3, suffering its first loss of the season.

The Spartans nearly opened the scoring early on, with Rachel Hutchinson's (Cloverdale, B.C.) seventh-minute shot stopped by UBC's Emily Moore before the Spartans Gabi Short (Calgary) sailed an opportunity just over the bar.

In the ninth-minute, the T-Birds had a chance of their own, but an offside call negated what could have been a UBC goal.

Into the second half, the Spartans had a prime chance in the 74th minute, when Jenaya Robertson's (Delta, B.C.) free kick was just tipped over the net by Moore.

On the ensuing corner kick the Spartans pulled ahead after Sierra Halldorson's (Calgary) cross found its way to Tidder, who headed home what would stand as the game-winning goal.

TWU added an insurance goal, when Harvey chipped the ball to the right of a rushing Moore, before firing home the Spartans second goal into an empty net.

TWU finished the night with a 12-6 edge in shots and 8-3 edge in shots on goal.

QUOTABLE
TWU Coach Graham Roxburgh
"It was a really big win. I thought we played really well. I thought UBC looked dangerous. It was a good game between two good teams. I felt we were a bit unlucky not to connect with Rachel in behind early on in the game. But I thought we dealt with their threats really well. I felt Brooklyn and Liz (Hicks, Langley) played well and Danielle Thune (Abbotsford, B.C.) did will to thwart the attack of Dani Steer, who is a really good player.

"They have some pace and they're really hungry. In the end, I'm really pleased. I thought last night, even though we won, we weren't really sharp. I thought tonight we were much better. I thought Jenaya in midfield was excellent. Syd (Duquette, Winnipeg) showed poise in her decision-making. Sierra had a great second half and in many ways solidified our back five. Kristen Sakaki (Surrey, B.C.) is the constant university player. She's fantastic. And Brooklyn, Liz and Dani were great. I can't really say one negative thing tonight."

NOTABLE
•    UBC and TWU have combined to win the last five Canada West championships, with the Spartans winning in 2014, 2017 and 2018 and the T-Birds winning in 2015 and 2016.
•    The Spartans are unbeaten in their last five games (4-0-1) with the T-Birds, going back to the CW semifinals in 2017.
•    Last year, the Spartans put together an eight-match winning streak, which included a 2-1 win over UBC.

NEXT UP
The Spartans hit the road next week, facing UNBC in Prince George on Friday (Oct. 4) before heading to Calgary to take on the Dino's on Sunday (Oct. 6).
 
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-