CALGARY, Alberta – Fourth-year forward
Mansha Sidhu (Surrey, B.C.) scored the winning goal on a free kick in added time to lift the Trinity Western Spartans to a 2-1 victory over the No. 7 Mount Royal Cougars in their Canada West quarter-final Saturday at Mount Royal Stadium. The Spartans improved to 9-4-2 across Canada West regular season and playoff competition, while Mount Royal finished 11-3-1.
Fourth-year forward
Luciana Andrews (Coquitlam, B.C.) opened the scoring in the 14th minute to give the Spartans the early lead.
Fifth-year goalkeeper
Yasmine Pahal (Surrey, B.C.) made four saves as TWU advanced to the conference semifinals. MRU's Ella Filek made four saves for Mount Royal in the loss.
Zoe Brazier brought the Cougars level in the 89th minute, with Tamara Djurisic drawing the assist, before Sidhu restored TWU's lead.
QUOTABLE
Graham Roxburgh, TWU Head Coach
"We overcame a lot today, obviously, with some injuries and some sickness, and I'm just so proud of the girls. Their heart and Mansha's goal were just special. Luciana was just so tireless in her running. Danny Cooper bailed us at the last second. Otherwise, we're playing overtime. But it was the willingness to run from our midfielders, the willingness to do the extra hard yards. Credit to Mount Royal; they're a very good team, and probably generated enough to win it. I'm just so proud that we won it in regulation. And now on to bigger and better things. We know that the mountain gets higher."
UP NEXT
The Spartans advance to the Canada West semifinals. Their opponent, date, venue and kickoff time remain to be confirmed.
AS IT HAPPENED
Mount Royal had an early opportunity to take the lead on a foul in the TWU penalty area, but Djurisic sent a penalty kick wide to the left in the 7th minute to keep the game scoreless. Andrews put TWU on the scoreboard in the 14th minute when Sidhu sent her in alone on the Mount Royal goal, where Andrews hit a hard shot that MRU's Filek could not contain to put TWU up 1-0. Pahal stopped Gabrielle Linford in the 19th minute, and Sidhu struck the crossbar in the 40th minute as the Spartans took a 1-0 lead into halftime.
Djurisic hit the crossbar three minutes into the second half as the Cougars pressed for an equalizer. TWU continued to generate chances, with second-year defender
Clara Chudley (Victoria, B.C.) heading a shot that was saved in the 62nd minute. Pahal denied Dany Juarez twice in the second half before Djurisic again struck the crossbar in the 82nd minute.
Brazier, who entered the match in the 83rd minute, scored in the 89th minute to level the match. Sidhu, back on the field since the 85th minute, got the game-winner with a free kick in added time. Sidhu's free kick from the right side of the park went high and over Filek into the top left corner to give TWU the lead. Pahal then saved a Djurisic shot in added time, and TWU's Daniele Cooper cleared a ball off the line on MRU's final shot to preserve the victory.
NOTABLE
- Mount Royal held a 16-14 advantage in shots, while TWU led 6-5 in shots on goal.
- The Spartans also had a 6-3 edge in corner kicks.
- TWU is now 8-0-2 all-time against Mount Royal, including a 7-0-2 record in Canada West regular-season meetings. The Spartans remain unbeaten in all 10 meetings with the Cougars.
- Sidhu scored her 25th career goal across regular-season and postseason competition, moving into sole possession of eighth place on TWU's all-time list. Her 12th career game-winning goal ties Nikki Wright for fourth in program history.
- Andrews has scored in three consecutive matches, following goals against Fraser Valley on October 23 and Thompson Rivers on October 24.
- Andrews and Chudley led the Spartans with four shots apiece. Sidhu finished with three shots.
- Both Spartan goals were unassisted. TWU was assessed 10 fouls and Mount Royal 12, with each team receiving two yellow cards.
- TWU finished the regular season 8-4-2, while Mount Royal went 11-2-1. Saturday was their first meeting of the 2026 Canada West season.
ABOUT SPARTAN ATHLETICS
Trinity Western's Spartans compete in 13 Canada West sports as members of U SPORTS: women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross country and track and field, plus women's rugby sevens. The university also fields independent teams in men's rugby and women's and men's disc golf. Since joining U SPORTS in 1999, TWU has earned 15 national team titles and 35 Canada West team championships. Visit GoSpartans.ca for news, schedules and results.
ABOUT TRINITY WESTERN UNIVERSITY
Trinity Western University offers undergraduate, graduate and adult degree-completion programs through a Christ-centred approach to whole-person education. TWU prepares graduates to lead with character and competence and contribute positively to their communities. The university has received seven consecutive A+ ratings for teaching and learning quality and holds three Canada Research Chairs. Learn more at TWU.ca.
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