VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The Trinity Western Spartans season came to an end Friday night in the Canada West quarter-final match with the Alberta Golden Bears. Alberta scored three unanswered goals to defeat TWU 3-1 at UBC's Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver, B.C.
Fourth-year keeper
Jordan Marwood (Langley, B.C.) made two saves in the Spartans' loss, while Alberta's Chris Ezoua made two saves to earn the win.
TWU third-year forward
Christian Rossi (Surrey, B.C.) scored the lone goal for the Spartans. Prince Amanda, Frankroy Cain and Rilind Idrizi each scored once for the Bears.
AS IT HAPPENED
The deadlock was broken in the 9th minute, with Trinity Western finding the opener when Rossi superbly volleyed home a
Thomas Powell (third-year, Coquitlam, B.C.) cross from the edge of the box with the Spartans' first attack of the game.
Powell almost added a second for the Spartans with a long ranger in the 28th minute that whizzed past the left post.
Alberta was pushing hard for the leveller and they were rewarded when Amanda tied things up two minutes before the break.
Marwood had done well to deny Velado-Tsegaye again after a slick Alberta passing play, but as the Golden Bears kept the pressure on, the Spartans keeper failed to deal with a high cross to the back post from Cain and the loose ball fell to Amanda, who had the easy job of tucking it away from close range.
Powell had a long-range chip for TWU to start the second half that Chris Ezoua held under his crossbar.
Marcus Velado-Tsegaye forced a save from Marwood in the Spartans' goal just four minutes in before Rodane Cato had a header over and Amanda saw a shot miss to the right as the Golden Bears pushed for the early breakthrough.
The Spartans came within the width of the crossbar to retake the lead in the 56th minute when second-year defender
Mario Banovic's (Burnaby, B.C.) header from third-year midfielder
Joey Seo's (Victoria, B.C.) corner came crashing back off it.
Alberta got a fantastic goal from Frankroy Cain just past the hour mark and a Rilind Idrizi penalty 10 minutes later saw the Golden Bears move on and end the Spartans' season.
Alberta took the lead through a piece of individual brilliance from Cain, who collected a pass from Jake Bosch in the box and showed great footwork to chip the ball over Marwood to the far corner and give the Golden Bears a lead they weren't to give up.
Third-year forward Charles Nana (Calgary, Alta.) had two great chances to bring the Spartans level, first denied by a great leg save from Ezoua and minutes later seeing a shot to the near post hit off the woodwork and go behind.
Alberta increased their lead in the 80th minute when Idrizi coolly fired home from the penalty spot, sparking huge Golden Bear celebrations and sealing their semi-final berth.
Cain came within inches of adding a fourth for the Albertans, but his low effort just whizzed past the left post. The Spartans had a couple of chances late on to reduce the deficit, but they couldn't make them count and the Golden Bears came away with a famous win.
NOTABLE
- Alberta outshot TWU 14-8 in total shots and 5-3 in shots on net.
- The Golden Bears also had a 3-2 edge in corner kicks.
- The Spartans finished third in the Canada West Pacific Division at 6-4-5 (.567).
- Alberta is second in the Canada West Prairie Division at 10-2-2 (.786)
- In their one meeting this year at Chase Office Field the Golden Bears defeated the Spartans 1-0.
- TWU is 16-13-8 lifetime against the Bears.
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 14 U SPORTS team championships and 34 Canada West team championships.
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