LANGLEY, B.C. – Trinity Western started their 2022 Canada West campaign emphatically on Friday, defeating Victoria 3-0 at the Chase Office Field.
The Spartans (1-0-0) were able to bounce the Vikings (0-1-0) courtesy of a brace from first-year
Charis Wardrope (Maple Ridge, B.C.), and a goal from
Theresa Hicks (Surrey, B.C.) edged TWU to victory.
Hannah Miller (Langley, B.C.) earned a clean sheet in the match, only having to stretch out for one save in the match as
Jessica Vance (Coquitlam, B.C.) and
Danielle Cooper (Surrey, B.C.) put together a strong performance in the center back slots.
AS IT HAPPENED
The first half of the match bore no goals as Victoria keeper Kayley Lidstone stretched out to make big saves whenever she faced a test.
It didn't take long for the Spartans to burst out of the half as Wardrope put her first of two goals in the back of the net, courtesy of a
Tilly James (North Vancouver, B.C.) feed.
Wardrope would add her second marker in the 80
th minute after
Sophie Crowther (New Westminster, B.C.) earned her first assist of the season.
The match ended with
Theresa Hicks (Surrey, B.C.) capitalizing on a scramble at the mouth of Victoria's net, ending the match at 3-0.
NOTABLE
• It was a magical debut for
Charis Wardrope, whose first Canada West markers were scored in only 45 minutes of play after coming on as a second half substitute.
• TWU outshot Victoria 16-1.
• The Spartans haven't lost to Victoria since Oct. 20
th, 2018, moving their consecutive streak of victories to seven against the Vikes.
• The last time TWU lost a regular season match in Canada West play was on Oct. 6, 2019 against Calgary (2-1 L).
QUOTABLE
TWU Head Coach Graham Roxburgh
"Pleased to win, and pleased with the performance other than 10 minutes when we let our frustration get the better of us – making it a game. I thought we had some fantastic attacking movements, we were just unlucky that the finish wasn't there, or their keeper made a save. Tilly [James] hit the crossbar, there were a couple scrambles in front of the net, we just couldn't find that final touch.
"We knew that we'd generate some chances if we kept winning the ball back in the second half. Tilly's run down the right wing and being able to find Charis sealed the deal for us. Nice opportunistic goal for Charis, and really pleased to see Theresa [Hicks] score late, making the score line what it should have been."
UP NEXT
The Spartans are set to take on the Canada West runner-up UBC Thunderbirds on Saturday (7 p.m., PT).
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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