LANGLEY, British Columbia — The No. 8 Trinity Western Spartans controlled much of the match but could not convert their chances in a 0-0 draw with the Victoria Vikes on Friday evening at Chase Office Field. In a rematch of last Sunday's 2-2 draw in Victoria, the Spartans outshot the Vikes 21-8 and earned a commanding 14-4 advantage in corner kicks. The result moved TWU to 2-1-2, while Victoria remained unbeaten at 0-0-3.
Fourth-year goalkeeper
Yasmine Pahal (Surrey, B.C.) stopped all three shots she faced to earn the clean sheet for the Spartans. Victoria goalkeeper Stefanie Mocnik made five saves, including four in the second half, to preserve the draw.
UP NEXT
The Spartans host the UNBC Timberwolves on Saturday at Chase Office Field in the second meeting between the teams in eight days. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. (PT), with the match available live on Canada West TV.
AS IT HAPPENED
TWU generated the first shot on target in the eighth minute when fifth-year midfielder
Kylie Hendricks (Maple Ridge, B.C.) forced Mocnik into an early save.
Victoria responded with two dangerous first-half opportunities. Scarlett McNeely tested Pahal in the 16th minute before Adrianna Hilton forced another stop in the 33rd.
The Spartans applied sustained pressure late in the half, earning four corner kicks over the final five minutes. TWU carried a 9-6 advantage in shots into the break, although Victoria held a 2-1 edge in shots on goal.
TWU came out aggressively after halftime. Fifth-year forward
Sophie Crowther (New Westminster, B.C.) forced Mocnik into a save in the 47th minute, and fifth-year forward
Charis Wardrope (Maple Ridge, B.C.) tested the Victoria goalkeeper less than two minutes later.
Victoria's best opportunity of the second half came in the 53rd minute when Malia Phelan fired from the top of the penalty area, but Pahal was in position to make the save.
Wardrope forced two more saves in the 69th and 75th minutes as the Spartans continued to press for the opening goal. TWU generated seven second-half corner kicks and 12 shots but could not find a way past Mocnik.
The Spartans kept Victoria pinned in its own end through much of the closing stretch.
Destiny Omari (Paris, Ont.) produced TWU's final opportunity with a header in the dying seconds, but the shot was blocked and the match finished scoreless.
NOTABLE
- TWU outshot Victoria 21-8 overall and 5-3 in shots on goal.
- The Spartans finished with a 14-4 advantage in corner kicks.
- Mocnik made five saves for Victoria, while Pahal stopped all three shots she faced for TWU.
- The Spartans are now 33-20-10 all-time against the Vikes and 21-17-10 in Canada West conference play.
- TWU has not lost to Victoria since a 1-0 setback in Victoria on Sept. 29, 2024.
- The Spartans were ranked second in the Canada West preseason coaches' poll, while Victoria was ranked fourth.
- Crowther's goal in last Sunday's 2-2 draw with Victoria gave her 50 career points, tying Carlee O'Brien ('07) for fourth in program history. Seina Kashima ('18) holds the Spartans record with 58.
- Crowther's 31 career conference assists rank second in Canada West history behind Kashima's 40.
- Pahal earned her 20th career conference victory in last Friday's 1-0 win at UNBC, tying Ally Williamson ('16) for fourth in program history. Angela Garriott ('04) ranks third with 21.
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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