VIDEO: MEN'S SOCCER HOSTS SASKATCHEWAN AND ALBERTA

MEN'S SOCCER (CANADA WEST)
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEN'S SOCCER HOSTS SASKATCHEWAN AND ALBERTA

LANGLEY, British Columbia – The men's soccer team returns home, after a weekend in Alberta that saw them draw both Lethbridge (1-1) and Calgary (0-0), to play two of the top teams in Canada West. Saskatchewan (3-1-2) comes to Rogers Park Friday at 7:00 p.m. while Alberta, which is ranked No. 4 in Canada and has a record of 5-1-0, is in Langley, B.C. Saturday at 7:00 p.m.

Watch the games live here.

Follow the live stats here.

SPARTANS (2-1-2)
CIS Ranking: No. 10
Canada West Standing: 5th
Last Week: Lethbridge 1-1 T, Calgary 0-0 T
Streak: 2 Ties
2009 conference record: 8-2-4 (2nd)
2009 CW Championship: 0-2 (4th)
2009 CIS Championship: 2-1 (3rd)
Last CW title: 2007
Last CIS title: N/A
TWU Lifetime vs Saskatchewan: 13-4-3
TWU Lifetime vs. Alberta: 11-6-6

The Spartans are coming off a disappointing weekend where they were forced to settle for draws in both Lethbridge (1-1) and Calgary (0-0).

In both games, the Spartan had opportunities to collect all three points but, in Lethbridge, they saw a Pronghorns goal in the 86th minute even the score, while in Calgary, TWU was unable to muster a goal on 11 shots, which included a few breakaways.

Trinity Western has sent fans on something of a roller coaster so far this year as they lost their first game to UBC (3-0), then won back-to-back games in their home opening weekend, followed by the pair of draws this past weekend.

This weekend, the Spartans play an Alberta team they haven’t lost to since a 1-0 defeat in the 2006 CIS Championship final and haven’t lost at home to the Golden Bears since 2003. While TWU’s record against Saskatchewan has seen them only ever lose one game in Langley (a 2-1 loss in 2006).

Through five games, TWU has averaged 1.20 goals per game (5th in CW) and 14.40 shots per game (4th in CW). Forward Garrett Peters leads the team with two goals (tied for 9th in CW) this year while Danfi Parker leads the team with 2.80 shots per game (8th in CW). Jordan Whitehead is tied for 5th in CW with two assists.

Defensively, TWU is second in CW having only allowed four goals all year for an average of 0.80 goals per game while Spartans keepers have only been forced to make 3.80 save per game (3rd lowest in CW).

Keeper Andrew Fink has taken over the reins between the woodwork as he has started four straight games since opening night against UBC when Andrew Kowan got the call. Fink is second in CW in both goals against average (0.25) and save percentage (.944) while making 4.25 saves per game (5th in CW). He has three shutouts (tied for 2nd in CW) in four games.

HUSKIES (3-1-2)
CIS Ranking: N/A
Canada West Standing: 4th
Last Week: Fraser Valley 2-1 W, Victoria 1-1 T
Streak: 1 Tie
2009 conference record: 2-10-2 (8th)
2009 CW Championship: N/A
2009 CIS Championship: N/A
Last CW title: N/A
Last CIS title: N/A
Saskatchewan Lifetime vs TWU: 4-13-3

The Huskies come to Rogers park on a five game unbeaten streak and are quickly proving they are a force in the Canada West not to be discounted.

After a two-win season last year, Saskatchewan opened the 2010 campaign with a 1-0 loss to Alberta, but since then have beaten Alberta (3-1), Lethbridge (8-0) and Fraser Valley (2-1) and drawn with Calgary (1-1) and Victoria (1-1).

Saskatchewan leads the CW in shots with 100 in six games and is second in goals (Alberta is first) with 15 for an average of 2.50 goals per game.

Midfielder Jerson Barandica-Hamilton is tied for the conference lead with five goals while fellow midfielder Josh Northey and striker Myles Shedden each have three. Forward Paul Craig is leading CW with 1.40 points per game as he has two goals and five assists (also tops in CW). Northey and Barandica-Hamilton are tied at the top of the conference with 22 shots for an average of 3.67 shots per game.

Defensively, the Huskies have allowed five goals in six games (third best in CW) for an average of 0.83 goals per game. While Saskatchewan is near the top of the conference in goals against, the Huskies have only recorded one shutout this year (posted by keeper Mark Diakiw).

Diakiw has played every minute of the Huskies six games this year and has a .821 save percentage (5th in CW) and a 0.83 goals against average (3rd in CW).

Defenders Abumere Okonofua, Jordian Farahni, Dion Morgan and Adam Laing have started all six games this year on the back line.  

GOLDEN BEARS (5-1-0)
CIS Ranking: No. 4
Canada West Standing: 1st
Last Week: Victoria 5-2 W, Fraser Valley 3-1 W
Streak: 4 Wins
2009 conference record:  7-3-4 (4th)
2009 CW Championship: 2nd
2009 CIS Championship: N/A
Last CW title: 2003
Last CIS title: 2006
Alberta Lifetime vs TWU: 4-20-3

The high-flying Golden Bears enter this weekend’s competition riding a four game winning streak and having only lost one game all year (a 3-1 defeat on the road against Saskatchewan).

The strength behind Alberta’s success this year has been predicated on the Golden Bears ability to seemingly score at will. In six games this year, Alberta has scored a league-high 17 goals for an average of 2.83 goals per game. In the process, they have recorded 91 shots (2nd in CW) for an average of 15.17 shots per game.

The Golden Bears offence has been led by the four horsemen of Samuel Lam, Brett Colvin, Marcus Johnstone and Milan Timotijevic.

Midfielder Lam, who was this past week’s Canada west male athlete of the week after scoring three goals and adding three assists in two games, and Colvin are tied for the CW lead in points with seven each, while Colvin is tied for the CW lead in goals with five.

While Lam and Colvin currently lead the Golden Bears points race, Johnstone and Timotijevic are not far behind as Johnstone has four goals and two assists thus far while Timotijevic has two goals and three assists. Johnstone is also tied for the CW lead with two game-winning goals.

Although the offence has been nothing short of dynamite, the Golden Bears defence has allowed eight goals this year (5th in CW) for an average of 1.33 goals per game. Goalkeeper Jaswinder Gill has made 20 saves in six games, has a .714 save percentage and has recorded one shutout.

Alberta has also been called for the least amount of fouls in CW as they have only committed 49 for an average of 8.17 per game.

-TW-

Last Updated: 2010-09-29
Author: Mark Janzen