CALGARY, Alberta – Saturday afternoon's matchup between the Trinity Western Spartans and the Calgary Dinos was a high-scoring game as the two squads battled to a 3-3 draw at Dino Field in Calgary, Alta. The tie moves the Spartans to 2-1-3, while the Dinos move to 4-1-1.
 
TWU's fifth-year keeper Hannah Miller (Langley, B.C.) made six saves in the match, while her counterpart with the Dinos Katie French made three saves.
 
TWU third-year forward Charity Field (Burnaby, B.C.) led the Spartans with two goals, with third-year defender Tilly James (Vancouver, B.C.) adding the third for TWU. Calgary's Rachel Barlow had all three goals for the Dinos.
 
AS IT HAPPENED

Field opened the scoring in the 12th minute. The third-year forward took a long through ball from first-year midfielder Laren Spiller (Surrey, B.C.), went up the right side of the pitch, and then from the top of the box she sent a low roller past Calgary's French and into the lower left side of the Dinos net to give the Spartans an early 1-0 lead.
 
Calgary's Barlow got her first of the match to tie the game in the 20th minute on a nice give-and-go with Ella Djuranic. Barlow took the pass and found the right side of the net to even the score at 1-1.
 
Barlow scored her second of the match to give Calgary the lead in the 29th minute. Barlow took a flick-on from Djuranic and volleyed the ball over Miller and into the top of the Spartans' net to put the Dinos up 2-1.
 
The Spartans had a chance to tie the match in the 37th minute when third-year midfielder Olivia Kranjcec (Okotoks, Alta.) was fouled on the left side of the penalty area. But her ensuing penalty kick was stopped by Calgary's French.
 
Field got her second of the match in extra time in the opening frame. Second-year forward Sophie Crowther (New Westminster, B.C.) set up the goal when she beat her defender on the right side of the penalty area. Crowther then sent a ball to the centre of the box where Field once again found the lower left corner to tie the match at 2-2.
 
TWU again took the lead, opening the scoring in the second half. Crowther took a corner kick from the right side of the pitch and sent a ball to the far post. Where TWU's James went high over the Calgary defenders and headed the ball down and into the left side of the Calgary net to put the Spartans up 3-2 in the 58^th minute.
 
Barlow was at it again in the 64th minute. She took advantage of a giveaway by the Spartans to go in alone on Miller. Barlow sent a ball past a charging Miller to tie the match at 3-3.

QUOTABLE
TWU Head Coach Graham Roxburgh
""I thought that overall it was a really good fiercely contested battle. Both teams had chances, but overall I think that we had the better of the chances. After our first goal, we went soft and flat for a few minutes and made a couple of corporate mistakes that led to their two quick goals."
 
"Really happy with our heart and really happy with our competitiveness today. I thought with a little bit more luck and a little bit more positive mentality we probably come away with three points. But Calgary is good on their home park. We more than acquitted ourselves. It's too bad we dropped points, but it was also a great step in the right direction and we will move on".
 
On standout play:
"I thought Sierra Halldorson (fourth-year, midfield, Winnipeg, Man.) had the best game of her season so far. She was excellent in the midfield today."
 
NOTABLE

• TWU enters this weekend ranked No. 6 in U SPORTS
• Both teams finished the match with 14 shots, with the Dinos having a 9-6 edge in shots on goal.
• Calgary also had a 5-4 edge in corner kicks.
• TWU committed nine fouls, while Calgary committed 11. Both teams had two yellow cards.
• The Spartans are currently 17-7-7 lifetime against the Dinos
• The last time TWU lost to Calgary was 2-1 on October 6, 2019 in Calgary.
• TWU head coach Graham Roxburgh currently has a conference record of Conference 199-51-42.

UP NEXT
The Spartans will now head south to face the Lethbridge Pronghorns Sunday afternoon. Match time is scheduled for 12 p.m. (MT) in Lethbridge and 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 14 U SPORTS team championships and 34 Canada West team championships.
 
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