LANGLEY, British Columbia – Trinity Western second-year defender
Clara Chudley (Victoria, B.C.) scored in the 85th minute to give the Spartans a 1-0 victory over the Thompson Rivers WolfPack Saturday night at Chase Office Field in Langley, B.C. The win improves TWU to 7-3-2 and moves the Spartans into second place in the Canada West Pacific Division with 23 points, one ahead of the WolfPack, who fall to 6-2-4 and 22 points.
Chudley's second goal of the season came at 84:30, with fifth-year forward
Sophie Crowther (New Westminster, B.C.) recording the assist, as the Spartans completed a weekend sweep on their final regular-season home date.
TWU keeper
Yasmine Pahal (Surrey, B.C.) made three saves to earn her seventh shutout of the season, while Thompson Rivers' Floor Ursem made six saves in the loss.
UP NEXT
The Spartans will finish their Canada West regular season on the road next weekend, visiting the Fraser Valley Cascades on Friday, October 23, at noon (PT) at Rotary Stadium in Abbotsford, B.C., before facing the WolfPack on Saturday, October 24, at 5 p.m. (PT) at Hillside Stadium in Kamloops, B.C. Both matches can be seen live on Canada West TV
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AS IT HAPPENED
The Spartans generated the majority of the first-half chances, with Crowther forcing Ursem into saves in the 25th and 32nd minutes. Fourth-year forward
Mansha Sidhu (Surrey, B.C.) also tested the WolfPack keeper in the 28th minute, but TWU was unable to find the opening goal.
At the other end, Pahal stopped Makenna Ford in the 23rd minute and again just before halftime to keep the match scoreless. The Spartans finished the opening half with a 7-3 edge in total shots and a 3-2 advantage in shots on goal.
TWU continued to press after the break. Third-year midfielder
Sidney Giesbrecht (Chilliwack, B.C.) was denied by Ursem in the 48th minute, before fifth-year defender
Emily Watchman (Edmonton, Alta.) forced another save in the 52nd minute. Moments later, fifth-year midfielder
Kylie Hendricks (Maple Ridge, B.C.) hit the crossbar as the Spartans searched for the breakthrough.
Pahal made her final save of the night on Allison Hill in the 53rd minute, while Ursem kept the match level with a save on Sidhu in the 67th minute. Thompson Rivers was reduced to 10 players when Kat Stewart received a red card in the 74th minute.
The Spartans finally broke through with just over five minutes remaining in regulation when Chudley scored off a Crowther assist. TWU held the WolfPack to one shot in the second half, finishing the final 45 minutes with a 12-1 advantage in total shots and a 4-1 edge in shots on goal.
NOTABLE
- The Spartans outshot the WolfPack 19-4 in total shots and 7-3 in shots on goal.
- TWU finished with a 12-1 edge in corner kicks.
- Crowther's seven shots give her 188 career Canada West regular-season shots, surpassing Carlee O'Brien's TWU record of 187.
- With the assist, Crowther extends her Spartan career points record to 60 and moves to 37 career assists, three behind Seina Kashima's Canada West record of 40.
- Crowther also recorded two shots on goal, bringing her TWU career record to 112.
- Pahal earned her 25th career Canada West regular-season victory, third in Spartan history.
- The Spartans recognized eight graduating players: Watchman, Crowther, Charis Wardrope, Danielle Cooper, Pahal, Hendricks, Mya Bajpai and Lianna Holz.
- Friday night, TWU defeated UBC Okanagan 5-0 at Chase Office Field, while Thompson Rivers drew 1-1 at UBC.
- The victory ends the WolfPack's unbeaten road record this season. TRU entered Saturday's match 3-0-3 away from home.
- TWU is now 15-3-1 all-time against Thompson Rivers, including 13-3-1 in Canada West regular-season play. The WolfPack won the teams' previous meeting 1-0 at Chase Office Field on October 3.
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 and women's and men's disc golf. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 15 U SPORTS team championships and 35 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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