BELLINGHAM, Washington –The Trinity Western Spartans fell to NCAA Div. II Western Washington Vikings 2-1 Tuesday evening in a cross-border-friendly at Harrington Field in Bellingham, Wash in the second to last match of the 2024 spring season.
Western Washington opened the scoring in the fourth minute of play. TWU second-year forward
Sophie Crowther (New Westminster, B.C.) tied the match in the 30
th minute as the two teams went into the half, tied at 1-1.
The Vikings got the game-winner in the 50
th minute. The Spartans nearly tied the game in the 70
th minute when fourth-year midfielder
Bryana Buttar's (Abbotsford, B.C.) strike went off the post and back across the goal line before being cleared by the Vikings defenders.
TWU second-year keeper
Yasmine Pahal (Surrey, B.C.) played the full 90 minutes for the Spartans.
QUOTABLE
TWU Head Coach Graham Roxburgh
"Overall I was pleased with many things about how we played. Disappointed to give away two sloppy goals that were avoidable. But we generated good chances and should have scored again. It was a good battle between two good teams, but again we need to be sharper in our decision-making and our ability to maintain possession."
NOTABLE
- TWU is 2-6-2 lifetime against WWU.
- The Spartans' last win against the Vikings was 2-1 on August 22, 2022, at Chase Office Field in Langley, B.C.
- TWU has never defeated WWU on the road in Bellingham, Wash.
UP NEXT
The Spartans will now conclude the year hosting the Gonzaga Bulldogs on Saturday, April 13. Match time is set for 4 p.m. at Chase Office Field.
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.
-TW-
