VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Fifth-year midfielder
Kylie Hendricks (Maple Ridge, B.C.) scored on a looping header in the 96th minute to lift the Trinity Western Spartans to a 2-1 overtime victory over the Victoria Vikes in the Canada West women's soccer bronze-medal match Friday afternoon at Thunderbird Stadium.
The victory sends the Spartans to next week's U SPORTS championship, hosted by UBC in Vancouver, B.C., marking TWU's sixth consecutive trip to nationals and its 14th appearance in the last 15 seasons. The Spartans improved to 10-5-2 across Canada West regular-season and playoff competition after finishing third in the Pacific Division at 8-4-2. Victoria finished fourth in the Pacific Division at 4-3-7 and went 1-2 in the Canada West playoffs.
Fourth-year forward
Luciana Andrews (Coquitlam, B.C.) opened the scoring in the 9th minute, finishing a low cross from fourth-year forward
Mansha Sidhu (Surrey, B.C.). TWU held the lead until deep into second-half added time, when Victoria's Raina Hagel headed home the equalizer to force overtime.
Hendricks restored the Spartans' lead at the 96th minute, sending her header past Victoria goalkeeper Stefanie Mocnik off an assist from fourth-year forward
Lianna Holz (Richmond, B.C.).
The Spartans controlled possession and carried the play for much of the afternoon, finishing with a 20-8 advantage in shots, an 8-5 edge in shots on goal and a 12-8 margin in corner kicks. TWU outshot Victoria 15-5 through regulation and 4-0 in the first overtime period.
Fifth-year goalkeeper
Yasmine Pahal (Surrey, B.C.) made four saves, including two in the second overtime period, to secure the victory. Mocnik finished with six saves for the Vikes, including a first-half penalty stop against Sidhu.
UP NEXT
The Spartans return to Thunderbird Stadium for the U SPORTS championship November 12-15. TWU earned its berth with Friday's bronze-medal victory, with host UBC already assured a place at nationals and advancing to the Canada West final.
QUOTABLE
Graham Roxburgh, TWU Head Coach
"We've had a really weird season. We've played really well at times, like we did today, and then giving up some untimely weird goals or missed chances that probably meant we should have won and finished higher up the table. So we've been the makers of our own doing, honestly."
"Even yesterday, I thought it was a fairly even game but we were punished for three mistakes. So we have to be better, but I can't say enough about the courage of our kids. To give up a goal like that late, when we should be winning, to come back and find the momentum again, and the desire and the belief. I coach great kids."
AS IT HAPPENED
TWU applied pressure from the opening minute, with Mocnik stopping Sidhu at 1st minute and fifth-year forward
Sophie Crowther (New Westminster, B.C.) in the 4th minute. Andrews put the Spartans ahead in the 9th minute, tucking away Sidhu's low cross for a 1-0 lead. The Spartans had an opportunity to double their lead in the 18th minute, but Mocnik saved Sidhu's penalty kick. Crowther tested the Victoria goalkeeper again just over a minute later as TWU built a 10-2 first-half advantage in shots and took a 1-0 lead into the break.
TWU continued to carry the play after halftime. Crowther sent three attempts wide, while second-year defender
Clara Chudley (Victoria, B.C.) headed an opportunity over the goal in the 79th minute. At the other end, Pahal stopped Mackenzie Lalonde in the 58th minute to preserve the lead. Victoria found its equalizer deep into added time, with Hagel heading home to send the bronze-medal match to overtime.
The Spartans responded less than six minutes into the first extra period. Hendricks' looping header found its way past Mocnik, with Holz earning the assist on the corner kick, to put TWU back in front. The Spartans maintained their pressure, earning five corner kicks in the opening overtime period. Pahal protected the lead in the second overtime period, stopping Scarlett McNeely in the 112th minute and Brianne McLeish in the 114th minute. Victoria's Isabella Paccani sent a final attempt wide as the Spartans held on for bronze and a return to nationals.
NOTABLE
- The Spartans outshot the Vikes 20-8 overall and 8-5 in shots on goal.
- TWU finished with a 12-8 advantage in corner kicks.
- TWU is now 34-20-10 all-time against Victoria, including a 21-17-10 record in Canada West regular-season meetings.
- The teams drew both regular-season meetings, 2-2 in Victoria on September 13 and 0-0 in Langley on September 18.
- Andrews and Crowther led TWU with five shots apiece, while Sidhu had four, including three on goal.
- Hendricks finished with two shots, scoring on her only attempt on target.
- TWU held Victoria without a shot in the first overtime period.
- The Spartans finished the Canada West playoffs with a 2-1 record, following a quarter-final victory at Mount Royal and a semifinal loss to UBC.
- Next week will mark TWU's 18th national championship appearance. The Spartans have won five national titles.
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 and field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes independently in men's rugby and women's and men's disc golf. Since joining 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 and holds three Canada Research Chairs. Through its whole-person, Christ-centred approach to education, TWU offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate and adult degree-completion programs that equip leaders of character and competence to make a positive impact in the lives of others.
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