VICTORIA, British Columbia – The No. 8 Trinity Western Spartans overcame a tough road game in Victoria to rally for a 2-2 draw with the Victoria Vikes Sunday afternoon at Centennial Stadium. The draw gives the Spartans four points on the weekend and moves them to 2-1-1 overall, while the Vikes move to 0-0-2.
Scoring for the Spartans were fifth-year forward
Sophie Crowther (New Westminster, B.C.) (9'), and second-year defender
Rhianna MacDonald (Chilliwack, B.C.) ('75).
Scoring for the Vikes were Raina Hagel ('44) and Brianne McLeish PK ('68).
TWU fourth-year keeper Yamine Pahal (Surrey, B.C.) made seven saves and played the full 90 minutes for the Spartans, while Stefanie Mocnik made eight saves while playing the full match for the Vikes.
UP NEXT
The Spartans will now head back home to Chase Office Field in Langley, B.C., to host the Victoria Vikes on Friday, September 18, and the UNBC Timberwolves on Saturday, September 19, in a repeat of this weekend's road matches. Both matches kick off at 5 p.m. (PT) and can be seen live on Canada West TV.
AS IT HAPPENED
TWU's Crowther got the Spartans going when she opened the scoring in the 9th minute. Fourth-year forward Destiny Omare (Paris, Ont.) got the play going when her shot from the middle of the Vikes penalty area was blocked, with the rebound going to Crowther. Crowther took a touch from the right side of the box and sent the ball past a diving Mocnik and into the far left side of the Victoria net. Victoria was able to even the score just before half with a goal from Hagel in the 44th minute, making it 1-1. Hagel's goal came after a Vikes header off the corner hit the crossbar, and then a Pahal save off a header from Sophie Olcen, but the Spartans were unable to clear it as Hagel got to the ball and found the back of the TWU net. The Spartans finished the half with a 10-9 edge in total shots, while the Vikes had a 6-5 edge in shots on goal.
The Vikes got their second of the match when they were awarded a penalty kick in the 68th minute, on a foul on a wide cross in the TWU penalty area. Harper was stopped by Pahal, but the TWU keeper was ruled to have moved off her line early. And the Vikes were awarded a retake on the PK. McLeish found the net on the second attempt to put the Vikes up 2-1. MacDonald got the Spartans even in the 75th minute. With a clean header, MacDonald converted a corner kick from TWU fourth-year forward
Mansha Sidhu (Surrey, B.C.) to make it 2-2 with 15 minutes remaining in the match. The Spartans' Crowther nearly got the game-winner in added time, but her shot off a free kick was knocked away by the Vikes Mocnik to keep the game even.
NOTABLE
- The Spartans outshot the Vikes 18-13 in total shots, and 10-9 in shots on goal
- Victoria ended the match with a 7-5 edge in corner kicks.
- TWU was ranked No. 2 in the Canada West preseason coaches' poll, while the Vikes were ranked No. 4.
- The Spartans are now 33-20-9 lifetime against the Vikes, and 21-17-9 in Canada West Conference play.
- TWU's last loss to Victoria was a 1-0 decision in Victoria on September 29, 2024.
- With her goal, Crowther now has 50 career points, tying Carlee O'Brien ('07), for fourth place on the Spartans' career points list. TWU's Seina Kashima ('18) holds the Spartan record for career points with 58.
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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