Box Score
Scheduled Game: @Alberta*
Game Recap
Game Recap
Men's Soccer (Canada West)
Saturday, October 13, 2007
TWU Spartan (2) at the University of Alberta Golden Bears (1)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
POGUE SHINES IN VICTORY
-Spartans move one step closer to home-field for postseason
EDMONTON - Nathan Pogue( 3rd year, forward, Seaside, Ore.) of the Trinity Western University men's soccer team scored two goals in the first seven minutes as the Spartans hung on for a 2-1 victory over the home town University of Alberta Golden Bears, Saturday afternoon at Foote Field in Edmonton.
The 8-1 and #3 ranked team from Langley, B.C. looked every bit as good as their record and National ranking as they potted two goals in two minutes on the #8 ranked Golden Bears.
"I'm incredibly happy with our team today. It was a very exciting game and it is great to get a win against one of the more difficult teams and locations to play on the road," said TWU Head Coach Al Alderson. "Alberta is a strong quick team and they did cause us problems. But our defenders played well and were really solid in limiting their chances."
In the fifth minute, Justin Cordick (Anmore, B.C.) was released all alone on the right hand sideline and from there the fifth year midfielder curled a perfect low cross into the Alberta penalty area where it was met by an unmarked Pogue at the back post for an easy tap in and a 1-0 lead.
The two were at it again in the seventh minute when Cordick received a corner kick at the back post and one-timed a pass at Pogue in the center of the Bears' six yard box where the third year striker easily tapped another one home and it looked as though Trinity was off to the races.
Len Vickery's side, who lost 4-0 at TWU in their second game of the season, had seen this score line before and were determined not too let the visitors walk away with another easy win.
The Golden Bears slowed the game dramatically after the second goal and began pushing the ball out wide on the Spartans, stretching the field and opening gaps for support runs. Alberta's pressure paid off in the 17th minute when they were awarded a free-kick from 25 yards out of the Spartan goal and cut the lead in half.
Castrillon-Rendon sent a high ball into the TWU 18-yard box where 6'2" central defender Erik Kuhn rose above the crowd and powered a header past Spartan 'keeper Andrew Fink (Burnaby, B.C.).
Alberta goalie Jaswinder Gill made a pair of big stops early in the second half when he denied a Spartan breakaway in the 52nd minute and then stopped a point blank shot in the 57th minute. "Alberta's keeper was brilliant in keeping the Bears in the game," added Alderson.
After a round of neutral zone soccer, Alberta was awarded another free-kick in dangerous territory but the John Konye strike was scooped up easily by Fink.
Konye and the Bears almost leveled the score late, when a mad scramble in the 82nd minute saw a bouncing ball move towards Konye, but the striker could not get behind the well enough and his shot deflected just wide.
The win moves Trinity Western's record to 8-1, while Alberta drops to 4-3-2 in Conference play. The Spartans will now take an eight hour bus ride to Saskatoon to match-up against the University of Saskatchewan Huskies on Sunday afternoon.
Match Notes: After Sunday's match the first place Spartans will return home for their final four regular season matches. With five matches remaining TWU is currently ten points ahead of second place Alberta and 11 points ahead of Lethbridge, Victoria and UBC... TWU magic number is now two. Two wins by the Spartans or two losses by each one of the trailing teams, or a combination, in the remaining five matches will allow TWU to take first place and host the Canada West Championships....this season TWU is 3-0 at home in CW Conference matches...with his two goals Pogue took over the CW goal scoring lead. He now has seven goals in nine games, teammate Adrian Kekec (Burnaby, B.C.) is in second place with six goals...
-TW-