HALIFAX, Nova Scotia – Second-year forward Mansha Sidhu (Surrey, B.C.) was the star of the match as she scored two first-half goals and set up the third goal to help lead the No. 7 Spartans to a resounding 3-0 win over the No. 6 Victoria Vikes in the U SPORTS Consolation Semi-Final Friday morning at Wickwire Field in Halifax. The Spartans dominated the game, controlling much of the play in the offensive third and finished with a 9-4 edge in total shots, and a 10-2 edge in corner kicks.
 
The Spartans third goal was an own goal off a Sidhu corner kick
 
TWU second-year keeper Yasmine Pahal (Surrey, B.C.) made three saves in the win. While Victoria's Kayley Lidstone made four saves in the Vikes loss.  
 
UP NEXT
With the win the No. 7 Spartans will now face the winner of the match between the No. 5 Nipissing Lakers and the No. 8 Dalhousie Tigers. The match will be hosted by Dalhousie, in Halifax, N.S. and be played November 9 at 4 p.m. (AST) at Wickwire Field in Halifax.
 
QUOTABLE
TWU head coach Graham Roxburgh
"I was really pleased with our response from the disappointment of yesterday. It's a game that, to be honest, is hard to emotionally get up for, but we talked a little bit about why our culture is so special and what makes us want to play for each other. I talked about, don't worry about playing for a medal today, play for what's in your heart. And they showed what's in their heart today."
 
"I thought Emily Watchman (third-year midfield, Edmonton, Alta.) was superb and dealt with some of their pace, Tilly James (fourth-year defender, Vancouver, B.C.) is always Tilly and very solid. Mansha was very good, with good finishes. I thought Charity Field's (fourth-year forward, Burnaby, B.C.) work rate was great as well as her decisions to hold up the ball.  I was really pleased that the team finished the game so professionally and kept us in possession, so really well the rounded solid performance. I can't not mention Danny Cooper (third-year defender, Surrey, B.C.) because that's hard to be left out of important games and she came back and just showed how much character she has."
 
AS IT HAPPENED
Sidhu got her first goal of the game in the 9th minute. Sidhu ran onto a high bouncing ball a took an open shot at the Victoria net. The Vikes Lidstone made the save but was unable to control the rebound and Sidhu took advantage and followed up to put the ball into the open net to give TWU the 1-0 lead.
 
Sidhu made it a two-goal lead for the Spartans when she took cross from Sarah Bazille, from the left side of the park. Sidhu controlled the ball on the goal area and put the ball into the open left side of the net to put TWU up 2-0 in the 41st minute.
 
Second-year midfielder Sidney Giesbrecht (Chilliwack, B.C.) thought she had the Spartans third goal in the 53rd minute, but it was ruled offside.
 
TWU put the game out of reach in the 67th minute when Sidhu sent a perfect corner kick to the near post, that went off a Victoria player and was ruled an own goal, to put TWU up 3-0.
 
NOTABLE

• The Spartans had a 7-3 edge in shots on goal.
• Victoria committed five fouls to TWU's six.
• TWU arrived at the Consolation Semifinal after a loss to No. 2 Laval 5-4 in PK's, while No. 6 Victoria, arrived after a 5-0 to No. 3 Ottawa.
• Trinity Western was 0-1-1 against Victoria in this year's Canada West conference play.
• The Spartans will now be competing in their fourth U SPORTS consolation final in program history. TWU is 1-2 in consolation finals.
• Today's match was the third time, 3-0, that TWU has played Victoria at the U SPORTS championship. Overall, the Spartans are 31-20-7 lifetime against the Vikes.
• In their 15 previous championships TWU has competed in gold medal match 10 times, winning five times.
• The Spartans last championship victory was in 2013 when they defeated Montreal 1-0 in the final.
• Since 2004 this is TWU's 16th U SPORTS championship appearance, and their fourth straight.

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.
 
About Trinity Western University
Recognized for quality, TWU has received seven consecutive A+ rankings for Quality of Teaching and Learning, holds three Canada Research Chairs, and wins national championships in U SPORTS. More importantly, lives are changed at TWU through its whole-person, Christ-centred approach to education. With a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree-completion programs, TWU equips leaders of character and competence to make a positive impact in the lives of others.
 
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