CALGARY, Alberta – Trinity Western third-year midfielder Sophie Crowther (New Westminster, B.C.) scored the lone goal of the match to help lead the No. 6 Spartans to a 1-0 victory over the Mount Royal Cougars Friday afternoon at Mount Royal field in Calgary, Alta. The win moves the Spartans to 4-1-2, while the loss drops the Cougars to 2-5-1.
 
TWU second-year keeper Yasmine Pahal (Surrey, B.C.) made one save to earn the shutout victory, while MRU's Ella Filek did not make a save in the one goal loss.
 
UP NEXT
After a day off the Spartans will finish the weekend on the road with a match against the Victoria Vikes. Match time at Centennial field on Sunday afternoon is set for3 p.m. (PT).
 
QUOTABLE
Trinity Western Head Coach Graham Roxburgh
"Today was a battle in so many ways. Wasn't the prettiest soccer but we showed some character to find a way and also defend in some really harsh wind."
 
"Emily Watchman (third-year midfield, Edmonton, Alta.) and Sarah Bazille (fourth-year defender, Coquitlam, B.C.) were excellent today and it was so good to see some great contributions from Destiny Omari (second-year forward, Paris, Ont.) and Veronica Walter (first-year midfielder, Calgary, Alta.)."
 
"We have to be better but sometimes you have to win the tough physical games and win ugly. Soph's free kick ended up being the difference maker, but I also think Yas save early was a difference."
 
AS IT HAPPENED
There were very few opportunities on net with the two teams combining for six total shots over the 90 minute match.
 
The one save that Pahal had early in the contest, 2nd minute, could have been the difference for the Spartans as Pahal made a leaping save to stop MRU's Tamara Djurisic on a free kick and keep the game at 0-0.
 
TWU made the most of their one shot on goal in the 76th minute. The Spartans were awarded a free kick near the centre of their offensive end and from about 35 yards out Crowther was able to bend the ball into the top right corner of the MRU, getting past a leaping Filek to put TWU up 1-0.
 
MRU had a couple of chances late but were unable to get anything on target as TWU prevailed with the one goal victory.
 
NOTABLE

• The Cougars outshot the Spartans 4-2 in total shots, with each team having one shot on target.  
• The Spartans had the edge in corner kicks at 7-5.
• Trinity Western is now 7-0-2 lifetime against Mount Royal.
• Last weekend on the road TWU lost to the No. 1 UBC Thunderbirds 4-0 and defeated the UNBC Timberwolves 3-1.
• Mount Royal split their two road games last weekend. Losing to the UBC Okanagan Heat 2-1 on Friday and defeating the TRU WolfPack 2-0 on Saturday.
• The Spartans and the Cougars tied 2-2 earlier this year 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.
 
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