VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The No. 9 Trinity Western Spartans were unable to find an answer as they fell for the second time this season, 2-0, to the No. 1 UBC Thunderbirds Saturday night at Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver, B.C. With the loss, the Spartans fall to 4-2-2, while the shutout win improves the Thunderbirds to a perfect 8-0, having yet to give up a goal in Canada West Conference play. TWU's only two losses this season are to the Thunderbirds.
Scoring for the Thunderbirds was Sopia Ferreira ('45), Maddie Norman ('61)
TWU fourth-year keeper Yamine Pahal (Surrey, B.C.) made two saves in the loss for the Spartans, while Marilena Spagnolo made one save to earn UBC its 23rd consecutive shutout win.
UP NEXT
The Spartans will now head home for a pair of matches. TWU will host the UBC Okanagan Heat on Friday, October 2, and the Thompson Rivers WolfPack on Saturday, October 3. Both matches are scheduled for a 5 p.m. (PT) kick-off and can be seen live on Canada West TV.
AS IT HAPPENED
After 45 minutes of scoreless play, the Thunderbirds capitalized on a free kick in added time. From deep on the left side of the park, UBC's Talya Dennehy sent the ball toward the far post, where Ferreira went high to head it into the right side of the Spartans' net to put UBC up 1-0 heading into the half-time break. UBC outshot TWU 7-4, while both teams had one shot on goal in the opening 45 minutes.
UBC extended their lead in the 61st minute when Norman got between the Spartan defenders, on a pass from Chloe Van Schalkwyk, and sent a hard shot toward the left side of the TWU net. Pahal got a hand to it, but it carried through into the Spartans' net, putting the Thunderbirds up 2-0. The Thunderbirds had a couple more dangerous shots, but Pahal made the stops. TWU had a late shot from outside the penalty area late in the contest, but were never able to break down the Thunderbirds in the attacking third as UBC took the contest 2-0. UBC outshot TWU 4-1 in total shots in the second half and 3-0 in shots on goal.
NOTABLE
- The Thunderbirds outshot the Spartans 8-5 in total shots, and 2-1 in shots on goal
- UBC ended the match with a 7-1 edge in corner kicks.
- The Spartans are now 20-37-12 lifetime against the Thunderbirds and 12-25-11 in conference play.
- TWU's most recent regulation win at UBC was a 1-0 victory on Oct. 15, 2021
- UBC has now scored 26 goals this season while not conceding a single goal this year.
- Last night the Spartans defeated the UBC Okanagan Heat 4-1 in Kelowna, B.C., while the Thunderbirds defeated the Fraser Valley Cascades 3-0 at home at Thunderbird Stadium.
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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