LANGLEY, B.C. – The Spartan women's soccer team picked up their second win of their exhibition schedule by defeating the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps REX 2-0 Wednesday at Chase Office Field.

AS IT HAPPENED
The Spartans held the majority of the pressure through the first half, including a number of corner kicks and free kick opportunities just outside of the box, before Sierra Halldorson (Winnipeg) converted on a penalty to give TWU a 1-0 lead late in the first. Makenna Dieterich (Langley) then extended the Spartans lead to 2-0 in the second half after scoring off a scramble in front of the Whitecaps net following a corner kick. The Whitecaps best chance came in the final minutes of the game, when Isabella Muzzolini hit the Spartans left post following a challenge from TWU goalkeeper Hannah Miller (Langley). The win saw Miller pick up her second consecutive clean sheet for the Spartans.

NEED TO KNOW

• TWU improves to 2-1 in their exhibition schedule this season. They previously lost 1-0 to UBC on the road (Oct. 9) before winning 3-0 at home over Fraser Valley last Friday (Oct. 16). 
• With the Canada West soccer season cancelled due to COVID-19, the Spartans are playing friendly matches against local opponents for the 2020-21 season.
• Wednesday's match was the Spartans first of two exhibition games scheduled against Whitecaps REX (Regional Excel Program) this Fall.

 


QUOTABLE
TWU Head Coach Graham Roxburgh

"Really pleased with tonight's performance. The Whitecaps have some really quality players, and we managed to move the ball quite well. Sierra Halldorson is playing at a new level right now and is honestly the engine in our midfield. Elizabeth Hicks (Surrey, B.C.) is as good as she's ever been, and Kristen Sakaki (Surrey, B.C.) is industrious. Aliya Coy (Calgary) was excellent in the second half, and Tilly James (Vancouver) is such great young player. I was also very pleased to see Makenna Dieterich score her first goal and Grace Van Den Brink (Chilliwack) play possibly her best game thus far as a Spartan.
 
"We probably could have generated some better opportunities in the final third of the game by making the right decisions at the right time. We're going to keep learning given that it's just our third game in six months, and we're happy to be playing and growing as a team together."