Box Score PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – Trinity Western won their first of the season on Saturday in a 3-0 victory over UNBC. The Spartans are still undefeated at 1-0-3.

Saturday's match between the two sides was filled with exciting moments as each team elected to pursue a counter-attacking mentality.

UNBC was the first to create chances, making Spartans goalkeeper Sebastian Colyn (Langley, B.C.) get to work early. Colyn made three key saves in the first five minutes of the game due to immense pressure from UNBC's attackers. During this pressure, the Spartans caught UNBC off guard, forcing a turnover to eventually get the ball to Soren Di Sabatino (Langley, B.C.) who neatly finished the game's first goal in the 10^th minute.

After Di Sabatino's goal put the game in balance, the Spartans started to put their foot on the gas. The most notable chance of all was a stunning move, and finish completed by first-year winger Christian Rossi (Surrey, B.C.) in the 30^th minute. The Spartans, looking to break their run of draws to begin the season, were heading into the second half with a two-goal lead.

The first 15 minutes of the second half were dominated by UNBC, who forced the Spartans back-line into clearances. Still, Trinity Western's center back combo of Mario Banovic (Burnaby, B.C.) and Noah Kroeker (Calgary) were able to hold off the flurry of threatening chances onset by UNBC.

It was in the 82^nd minute when the Spartans sealed their first victory courtesy of another goal by Soren Di Sabatino. The forward's second goal of the game came off a cross from Jackson Thomson (Langley, B.C.).

NOTABLE

• Christian Rossi and Soren Di Sabatino were outstanding in Saturday's match. Both players combined for all three goals with each of them being their first in Canada West conference play.
• Third-year winger Jackson Thomson was a burst of energy of the bench, playing an instrumental role in the third goal of the game. As he was brought in halfway into the 2^nd half, Thomson used his athleticisim to constantly threaten UNBC's fullbacks throughout his duration on the pitch.
• With this win, Sebastian Colyn is now tied for third in career Canada West wins. Saturday's win over UNBC was his 26^th. Former Spartans keeper Andrew Fink ('12, Burnaby, B.C.) is also tied at 26.
• After the win, the Spartans remain at 2^nd place in Canada West's western conference with six points. Trinity Western is one point behind the conference leader, Victoria (2-0-1).

QUOTABLE
TWU Head Coach Mike Shearon
"Happy with the result tonight. The players put in a ton of effort tonight and did everything we asked them to do. There are still things we need to work out and fix, but if we keep improving throughout the year we'll become a more difficult team to play.
"Sebastian Colyn made massive saves for us tonight. Soren Di Sabatino banged in two goals and worked hard. I thought Christian Rossi and Tristan Torresan (North Vancouver, B.C.) were great as well. Overall, very happy with the way the team played tonight."
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans will be at home on Sept. 24^th and 25^th for two rivalry matches against Fraser Valley (0-1-0).
 
About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 13 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross country and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes as an independent team in men's rugby. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 12 U SPORTS team championships and 29 Canada West team championships.

-TW-