LANGLEY, British Columbia – The Trinity Western Spartans exploded for three second half goals on their way to a 3-1 win over the visiting No. 9 Mount Royal Cougars Friday night at Chase Office Field in Langley, B.C. the win moves the Spartans to 1-3-1, while the loss drops the Cougars to 1-1-4.
The Spartans got goals from fourth-year forward Charles Tchouya Nana (Calgary, Alta.), third-year midfielder Jordan Low (Port Moody, B.C.), and fourth-year forward Christian Rossi (Surrey, B.C.). While the Cougars lone goal came from Skyler Rogers.
TWU third-year keeper Alex Cordeiro (Burnaby, B.C.) made three saves in the Spartans' win. While MRU's Aidan Cumoulin made two saves in the Cougars loss.
UP NEXT
The Spartans will have Saturday off before heading back on the road next weekend to Edmonton for games against Alberta and MacEwan.
QUOTABLE
Trinity Western Head Coach Mike Shearon
"Overall, it was a good Canada West game, and it was a good game for us tonight. Playing against MRU, they are a good team, and they want to play. There was kind of back and forth a little bit in the first half, and we had a lot of the play, but then we kind of faded a bit and they started to take it to us a little bit, but we stood strong."
"Then in the second half we got the goal that we needed and then we kind of flew from there, which was nice to see us getting three goals. That matches how many goals we have in the season. so far. So, it was nice to see the guys get a few goals today. It was a bit unfortunate on the one that we gave up, but we'll take it. It's a W and it's the first one of the season."
"I couldn't be prouder of the the whole team. The guys that didn't dress tonight worked hard and were great in training this week. Which had a direct impact on tonight's outcome. I think we're in a good spot and we just need to keep building momentum off this."
AS IT HAPPENED
After a scoreless opening half the Spartans came out strong to start the second and quickly got on the board. TWU fourth-year midfielder Thomas Powell (Coquitlam, B.C.) took a hard shot from the top of the box that was went off a Cougar defender to Nana. Nana made quick work and fired the ball into the top of the Mount Royal net to put Trinity Western up 1-0 in the 50th minute.
TWU doubled their lead in 84th minute. Powell picked up his second assist of the night when he sent a long cross from the sideline to the far side of the six-yard box. TWU's Rossi went high over the MRU defenders and headed the ball into the top of the net to put the Spartans up 2-0 with six minutes remaining.
The Spartans Low gave TWU a three-goal lead with a fine individual effort. Low took a pass from third-year midfielder Kieran Eve (Coquitlam, B.C.) at half and went past the MRU defenders to go in alone on net. From the centre-left of the box Low chipped the ball over Mount Royals Cumoulin to put TWU up 3-0 in extra time.
Two minutes later MRU got on the board. Mount Royal earned a free kick just inside the Spartans side of half. The Cougars Ethan Keen sent a ball right into the Spartans goal area. TWU's Cordeiro went high to get the ball and as he was coming down was bumped and unable to maintain control of the ball. MRU's Skyler Rogers got the loose ball and put it into TWU net to make the final score 3-1 for the Spartans.
NOTABLE
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Last weekend the Spartans lost 1-0 to the No. 10 (US) Victoria Vikes in Victoria, B.C., and tied the No. 1 (US) UBC Thunderbirds 1-1 in Vancouver, B.C.
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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