Nov 5 Gold for TWU

Men’s Soccer (Canada West Gold Medal Match)
Saturday, November 5, 2005
TWU Spartans (2) vs the UBC Thunderbirds (1)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Gold for TWU
TWU men’s soccer captures Canada West crown

LANGLEY, British Columbia – The Trinity Western University men’s soccer team is headed to next week’s CIS National Championship as the number one team out of Canada West. The Spartans earned the Canada West title with a hard fought 2-1 victory over the number three ranked University of British Columbia Thunderbirds Saturday night at TWU.

The Canada West championship is a first for a TWU men’s team and only the second title in the school’s seven year history in the CIS. The other title belongs to TWU’s women’s soccer team, who won the Canada West title on their way to being crowned national champs.

“It is great to be going to the national championships after a win and as the Canada West champions,” said TWU Head Coach Al Alderson.

The Thunderbirds were the first to get on the scoresheet. Brian Reems (Nanaimo, BC) headed in a cross from teammate Ben Decosse (North Vancouver, BC) to give UBC a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute.

The goal took a bit of the life out of the Spartans and their fans. But less than three minutes later the momentum of the match would change dramatically.

In the 31st minute TWU forward Todd Anderson (1st yr, Langley, BC) went in down the right hand side of the park and as he was nearing the end of the field he sent a ball towards the UBC net. The ball went past UBC keeper and towards the far side of the net, where a UBC defender was standing. But the ball took a strange bounce and rather then being cleared it went off of the defenders leg and into the Thunderbird net to make the score 1-1.

The goal energized the Spartans and their fans. For the next ten minutes the pace of the match was high and both teams had opportunities to put their squad ahead.

In the 44th minute TWU’s Nathan Square-Briggs (Richmond, BC) notched the eventual game winner. The Spartans were awarded a free kick half way between centre field and the top of the UBC box. TWU forward Justin Cordick (Anmore, BC)  took the kick and sent it towards the far side of the UBC net where Square-Briggs, beat the Thunderbird defender to the ball and headed it into the back of the UBC net.

The second half was energized and had each squad with quality chances. In the final ten minutes the Thunderbirds put everybody forward looking for the equalizer. It looked like UBC’s Steve Deblasie (Burnaby, BC) had the goal on a shot form the top of the box. But TWU keeper Chris Cecil was there to make the diving save and preserve the Spartan win.

TWU’s Chris Cecil (Abbotsford, BC) made five saves to earn the win, while UBC’s Serge Djekanovic (Vancouver, BC) made 11 saves in the loss as TWU out shot UBC 18-12 on the match.

With the CIS moving to an eight-team, single-knockout draw for the first time this year, Canada West has two berths into the national tournament, meaning the both the Spartans and the Thunderbirds will be both moving on to UPEI in Charlottetown next week.

The championship schedule has the Spartans opening Thursday morning at 9 am AST against Quebec number two, while the Thunderbirds open at 2 pm against Quebec number two. The CIS championship game is scheduled for Sunday, November 13 at 1 pm AST.

-TW-

Last Updated: 2009-09-03
Author: Scott Stewart
Email: ssstew@twu.ca