LANGLEY, British Columbia – Led by fifth-year fullback Matthew Willemse (Pietermaritzburg, SA) and a dominant second half, the Trinity Western Spartans rallied for a 37-17 win over the visiting Arizona Wildcats on a sunny Saturday afternoon at The Stadium at Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C.
 
The Spartans trailed the Wildcats 14-10 at the half, but outscored Arizona 27-3 in the final 40 minutes to secure the win. TWU took their first lead of the game, 20-17, in the 56th minute and never looked back.
 
Willemse was instrumental in the TWU win, scoring 17 points, including a penalty kick from just inside the half, 56 meters, in the 69th minute.
 
TWU Scoring
Matthew Willemse 17 points (4 conversions, 3 penalty kicks)
Fourth-year scrum half Brady Howlett (Maple Ridge, B.C.)10 points (2 trys)
Fourth-year prop Tim Zimmer (Fort St. John, B.C.) 5 points (1 try)
 
Arizona Scoring
Maeson Westerlund 7 points (2 conversions, 1 penalty kick)
Nick Morgan 5 points (try)
Jake Schumacher 5 points (try)
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans will now host the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs for their final game of the season on Saturday, March 28. Kick-off is set for 2:30 p.m. (ET) at The Stadium at Langley Events Centre.
  
QUOTABLE
Andrew Evans, TWU Head Coach
"Thank you to the Arizona Wildcats for bringing their high-energy team to Langley and delivering such an intense match. We have great respect for their program—well coached, disciplined, and full of dynamic, skilled players.
 
This was one of our most rewarding wins, given the level of challenge and quality Arizona brought. Our Spartans earned it through diligent preparation and strong execution of our game plan.
 
Although today was Senior Celebration Day, our captains—Ethan, Genaro, and Caleb Graham—reminded everyone that this match was about the purpose of our program: doing your job and playing for the team, not individual recognition. The entire squad followed that message for the full 80 minutes, showing resilience and unity to outlast a very strong Arizona side.
 
We are grateful for our graduating Spartans, who have faithfully served and embodied our team verse, Matthew 23:11–12. We are confident they will continue to make us proud as they step into the next chapter of their journey."
  
SCORING SUMMARY
18' – ARZ TRY Nick Morgan (Maeson Westerlund convert made) 7-0 ARZ
28' –TWU PK Matthew Willemse 7-3 ARZ
32' – ARZ TRY Jake Schumacher (Maeson Westerlund convert made) 14-3 ARZ
35' – TWU TRY Tim Zimmer (Matthew Willemse convert made) 14-10 ARZ
 
HALF TIME 14-10 ARIZONA
49' – TWU PK Matthew Willemse 14-13 ARZ
54' – ARZ PK Maeson Westerlund 17-13 ARZ
56' – TWU TRY Backham Dickie (Matthew Willemse convert made) 20-17 TWU
65' – TWU TRY Brady Howlett (Matthew Willemse convert made) 27-17 TWU
69' – TWU PK Matthew Willemse 30-17 TWU
78' – TWU TRY Brady Howlett (Matthew Willemse convert made) 37-17 TWU
 
FINAL 37-17 TRINITY WESTERN

About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 11 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes as in the NAIA in track and field and cross country and 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 14 U SPORTS team championships and 33 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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