KELOWNA, British Columbia – The Trinity Western Spartans fell to 0-2 to open the 2024 Canada West season after a 1-0 loss to the UBC Okanagan Heat Saturday evening at Nonis Field in Kelowna, B.C. The loss drops the Spartans to 0-2 on the season, while the win improves the Heat to 1-2-1.
 
UBC Okanagan's Zack MacInnes scored the lone goal of the match in the 85th minute to give the Heat the victory.
 
TWU third-year keeper Alexander Cordeiro (Burnaby, B.C.) made three saves in the loss, while UBCO's Ronan Woodroffe made fours save to earn the shutout win.
 
AS IT HAPPENED
The Spartans had a number of quality opportunities in the first 20 minutes but were unable to find the opening goal.
 
The lone goal of the match came when UBC Okanagan had a free kick just inside the Spartans side of the half. The Heat's Aidan Synnuck took the ball up the left side of the park and from just inside the top left side of the TWU box sent a hard shot on target. Cordeiro was able to make a diving stop to his left but was unable to control the rebound. Macinnes was the first person to the ball, which he struck into the centre of the TWU net. TWU third-year defender Mario Banovic (Burnaby, B.C.) tried the stop the ball from entering the net but was un successful giving the Heat the 1-0 lead with five minutes remaining.
 
The Spartans Banovic had a long strike in extra time, but the Heat's Woodroffe was able to dive to his right to stop the ball from going into the lower left corner of the Spartans net.
 
QUOTABLE
Trinity Western Head Coach Michael Shearon
"Another tale of moments. Thought we did well for 89 minutes but the game is 90. We will regroup this week and try to dig ourselves out of the hole we made. Struggle and emerge."
 
NOTABLE

• The Spartans outshot the Heat 12-7 in the match. With both teams having four shots on goal.
• Both teams had three corner kicks.
• TWU plays eight of their first nine matches on the road.
• TWU enters 2024 ranked No. 4 in the Canada West preseason coaches poll. UBC Okanagan was ranked No. 9.
• TWU is 8-7-4 lifetime with UBCO. Last season the Spartans were 1-1 with the Heat, winning 2-1 at home, while losing 1-0 in Kelowna.
• The Spartans lost 2-1 to the TRU WolfPack Friday night in Kamloops, B.C.
• The Spartans won't have their home opener until September 13 when they host the Mount Royal Cougars for a solo weekend match on Friday night.

 
UP NEXT
The Spartans will remain on the road next weekend when they travel to Vancouver to play the UBC Thunderbirds on Friday, September 6 at 7 p.m., and Victoria to play the Vikes on Saturday, September 7 at 5:30 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 14 U SPORTS team championships and 34 Canada West team championships.
 
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