LANGLEY, B.C. – It was a special home opener for Trinity Western at the Chase Office Field on Friday as the Spartans defeated UBC Okanagan 2-1.
 
TWU (2-0-1) was lifted by Soren Di Sabatino's (Langley, B.C.) winning goal in the 75^th minute as a TWU own goal handed UBCO (0-2-1) a 1-0 lead in the 10^th minute.
 
Thomas Powell (Coquitlam, B.C.) got the Spartans on the scoresheet soon after, with the assist coming from Di Sabatino. First-year forward Keishean Francois (White Rock, B.C.) assisted on Di Sabatino's winner.

AS IT HAPPENED
An errant pass from the midfield slid into TWU's own net in the 10^th minute, putting the Spartans down early due to an own-goal.
 
With little time separating the events, Powell would receive a pass from Di Sabatino in the Heat's 18-yard box, slotting a sharp-angled effort in the top-right corner to even the score in the 11^th minute.
 
The Spartans would produce an excess of chances before Di Sabatino would capitalize on a scramble that ensued in front of the Heat's net.
 
QUOTABLE
TWU Head Coach Mike Shearon
"The funny part about our program is that a lot of times we have to rectify things that have happened in the past. The start of today's game is no different than what happened last year. Mario [Banovic] had an own goal, Thomas [Powell] had an own goal, and they both rectified it. The difference is that we took another chance when we needed to, and we probably should've taken a few others – but that's football.
 
"Credit to UBCO for working hard and making sure that the game stayed 1-1 for a long time."

 

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NOTABLE
• First-year forward Keishean Francois earned his first assist of his Canada West career, doing so on Di Sabatino's game-winner.
• TWU's all-time record against the Heat now sits at 7-4-4
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans will battle the undefeated Thompson Rivers WolfPack at home on Saturday (7:15 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.
 
-TW-