PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – Fifth-year
Jordan Low and first-year
Romeo Strauss scored for the Spartans, but a late UNBC goal forced Trinity Western to settle for a 2-2 draw Friday at Masich Place Stadium.
Low opened the scoring in the 38th minute but UNBC's Koss Nystedt evened the scoreline just before halftime. Strauss put TWU (1-3-1) ahead again in the 57th minute, but Kaiden Young's 88th-minute goal tied things up late for the Timberwolves (0-1-2).
Jakob Frank made two saves for TWU, while a much busier Callum Cuthbert stopped seven of nine shots.
TWU is now 15-3-9 all-time against UNBC.
The Spartans opened the scoring in the 38th minute after
Elijah Bean delivered a dangerous cross from the left side of the box. Low settled the opportunity and fired a low shot past a diving Cuthbert to give visiting TWU a 1-0 lead.
The goal capped a first half in which TWU generated the majority of the offensive pressure, outshooting UNBC 5-1. Cuthbert helped keep the Timberwolves within striking distance, making his best stop off of
Xander Roxburgh in the eighth minute.
UNBC made its lone shot of the opening half count, however, drawing level just before the break.
In the 45th minute, Trevor Scott floated a well-weighted ball into the box from the right wing, where Nystedt timed his run perfectly and redirected the pass with a header to make it 1-1.
TWU responded three minutes later and regained the lead on its first shot on target of the second half. Strauss capitalized after a deflection off a UNBC defender sent the ball his way. Strauss then calmly finished the chance for his first goal of his university career.
The Spartans did an effective job limiting UNBC's opportunities, with the Timberwolves showing just two shots on target through the opening 80 minutes.
The late pressure finally paid off in the 88th minute.
Kim received the ball on the left wing and sent a curling delivery into the box. The ball took a perfect bounce off the turf and redirected into the net, bringing the crowd to its feet and restoring parity at 2-2.
QUOTABLE
Mike Shearon, TWU Head Coach
"We were in winning positions twice, and it's frustrating that we didn't come out with a victory today. I thought we did enough to have it. I thought we could have probably had a few more goals. We did a lot of things really well today. But in the end, we came up short again. So we'll have to regroup and continue to hold ourselves accountable to a better standard so that we can have a great game against UVIC."
UP NEXT
TWU will travel to Victoria to play the No. 9-ranked Vikes Saturday at 3:15 p.m.
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 CIS 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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