LANGLEY, British Columbia–Trinity Western forward Soren Di Sabatino (Langley) got his first hat-trick of his career to lead the Spartans to a 3-1 win over the visiting Victoria Vikes Friday night at Chase Office Field in Langley, B.C. The three markers, all assisted by midfielder Thomas Powell (Coquitlam, B.C.) give Di Sabatino seven on the season.
 
The win improves the Spartans to 6-7-2, while the loss moves the Vikes to 2-7-4.
 
AS IT HAPPENED
Di Sabatino opened the scoring with his fifth goal of the season in the 26^th minute. Sabatino converted a pass from Powell to give the Spartans the 1-0 lead.
 
The Vikes Rees Goertzen got his first goal of the season to tie the match at 1-1 in the 40^th minute. Goertzen got the ball past TWU keeper Alexander Cordeiro (Burnaby, B.C.) after being sent in alone on a pass from Harnish Ogden.
 
Both teams ended the half with six shots in a 1-1 tie.
 
TWU's Sabatino and Powell connected again for the Spartans in the 52^nd minute. Sabatino received the ball in the centre of the box, beat a defender and then found the back of the Vikes net to put TWU up 2-1 with his second goal of the match.
 
Sabantino got the hat trick in the 62^nd minute when he once again connected to with Powell to put TWU up 3-1 after finding the lower right corner of the Victoria net.
 
QUOTABLE
TWU Head Coach Michael Shearon
"It was a good win and we did what we needed to do tonight. The guys put in a good effort and Di Sab got a hat trick. It wasn't always the prettiest game. I thought UVIC played well, but in the end it got done. Just thankful that we got the victory."
 
NOTABLE
• The Spartans are now 20-23-4 lifetime against the Vikes.
• Entering the match Trinity Western was sixth in Canada West in scoring with 19 goals, while Victoria is 12^th with 11 goals. The Vikes have now given up 24 goals, while the Spartans have given up 22 goals.
• The Spartans Cordeiro made seven saves to earn the win while the Vikes Harjot Nijar made two saves in the loss.
• Trinity Western and Victoria each had 11 total shots, with the Vikes holding an 8-5 edge in shots on goal.
• The Spartans win avenges a 3-0 loss to the Vikes in Victoria on September 10.
 
UP NEXT
The will host the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds Saturday night in their final Canada West conference game of the 2022 season. Match time is set for 7:15 p.m. at Chase Office Field in Langley, B.C. The game can be seen live on Canada West TV.
 
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 13 U SPORTS team championships and 32 Canada West team championships.
 
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