VICTORIA – The Trinity Western Spartans defeated the UBC Thunderbirds 3-2, (5-4) in penalty kicks in their opening game of Victoria Vikes annual Keg Cup Saturday afternoon in Victoria, B.C. With the win, the Spartans move into tomorrow's Ked Cup final.
Adam Hajdecki (Surrey, B.C.) got the game-winner on TWU's fifth try after UBC's fifth striker previously hit the Spartans' goal post. TWU's
Yeshua Silwamba (Maple Ridge, B.C.) played the full 90 for the Spartans.
The Thunderbirds opened the scoring on a penalty kick after their player was tripped in the Spartans penalty area. TWU's
Keishean Francois (White Rock, B.C.) tied the game up on a second phase goal to lead the teams into the half-time break tied at 1-1.
The Spartans
Luca Alberti (Burnaby, B.C.) worked with Francois early in the second frame to put TWU up 2-1. But the Thunderbirds were able to score a great goal in the last minute to send the match to penalty kicks.
QUOTABLE
Michel Shearon– TWU Head Coach
"Overall a good performance. We will see if we can put it together again tomorrow. Adam, Silwamba, and Luca had played well and the team stuck together."
NOTABLE
• The Spartans are now 11-26-13 lifetime against the Thunderbirds and 8-21-13 in Canada West conference play.
• TWU also defeated UBC 1-0 (3-2) in last year's Keg Cup semi-final.
• The Spartans played a man down for the final 25 minutes after
Francis Powell (Coquitlam, B.C.) was sent off after getting his second yellow card of the match.
• TWU also lost to UBC 2-1 in their final game of the 2022-23 Canada West season.
UP NEXT
The Spartans will play the winner of Saturday's 4 p.m. match between the Fraser Valley Cascades and the Victoria Vikes. The match is currently scheduled for Sunday morning at 2 p.m.
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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