LANGLEY, British Columbia – A header by Trinity Western Spartans fourth-year forward
Lianna Holz (Richmond, B.C.), off a corner kick by fifth-year
Sophie Crowther (New Westminster, B.C.), was the difference, giving the Spartans a 1-0 win over the Fraser Valley Cascades in the Canada West season opener Friday night at Chase Office Field in Langley, B.C.
TWU fourth-year keeper Yamine Pahal (Surrey, B.C.) made one save and played 90 minutes for the Spartans, while Alana Madec (Langley, B.C.) made five saves and played the full match for the Cascades.
UP NEXT
The Spartans will now host the No. 1 UBC Thunderbirds tomorrow night at Chase Office Field in Langley, B.C. Game time is set for 5 p.m. (PT) and can be seen live on Canada West TV.
AS IT HAPPENED
The Spartans opened the half with corner kicks from Crowther in the 13th minute and
Mansha Sidhu in the 14th minute, with
Destiny Omari putting a header on goal that Madec stopped. Holz had a shot blocked in the 20th minute, and Sidhu forced another save in the 22nd minute before Sidhu and Crowther delivered two more corners, and
Clara Chudley headed wide in the 24th minute. TWU continued to create chances later in the half, with Sidhu blocked in the 29th minute. Holz stopped by Madec in the 29th minute, and Crowther took another corner in the 30th minute, but neither side scored before halftime. TWU finished the half with a 6-0 edge in total shots.
Early in the second half, the Spartans created chances through Crowther, whose shot went high in the 50th minute, and
Jenna Rizzo, who served a corner in the 54th minute, before Fraser Valley's Emerson Toop put an attempt on goal that
Yasmine Pahal saved in the 65th minute. The half stayed scoreless as Crowther forced saves from Madec in the 77th minute and the 80th minute. TWU added late pressure with Sidhu having back-to-back corners in the 85th minute. Crowther had the final corner of the match in added time, finding Holz in the centre of the box for the header and the TWU 1-0 win.
NOTABLE
- The Spartans outshot the Cascades 12-1 in total shots, and 6-1 in shots on goal
- TWU had a 9-0 edge in corner kicks.
- TWU was ranked No. 2 in the Canada West preseason coaches' poll, while UFV was ranked No. 11.
- The Spartans are now 40-5-7 lifetime against the Cascades, and 32-4-7 in Canada West Conference play.
- TWU's last loss to UFV was in a 3-2 shootout loss in the Canada West semi-final on November 6, 2010, in Edmonton, Alta.
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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