Scheduled Game: @Alberta*

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GAME RESULTS 1 2 T Trinity Western 1 1 2 Alberta 0 2 2

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Game Recap

Men's Soccer (Canada West)
Saturday, September 20, 2008
TWU Spartans (2) at the University of Alberta Golden Bears (2)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPARTANS DRAW WITH GOLDEN BEARS

EDMONTON - The University of Alberta Golden Bears soccer team twice clawed their way back from a goal deficit, including a 92nd minute equalizer, as they 2-2 tied the visiting Trinity Western Spartans Saturday afternoon at Foote Field in Edmonton.

"Alberta is one of the toughest places to play on the road, so from that perspective for us to be about 20 seconds away from a win makes it probably hurt a lot worse to end up with a tie where three points were ours to take," said TWU head coach Al Alderson. "But we had pockets of good things happening at different spots around the field. And we are fairly happy with the way we battled and with our overall effort today."

"We are a team that is not at its full stride and we are looking forward to the moment when we do get all 11 players playing well," added Alderson.

Trinity Western, who has become a rival for the Bears in recent years, opened the scoring in the 26th minute off a free-kick 22 yards away from the Alberta goal. Defender Paul Hamilton's initial set piece was cleared but right back to him and he slid the ball along the top of the 18 yard box to an open Adrian Kekec who first time buried the ball into the bottom low corner from 18 yards out.

The 1-0 score line would stand until the second half as both teams played a great deal of midfield soccer, with neither side creating a lot of chances.

Just one minute into the second stanza the teams were on level terms as Golden Bear half-time substitution Matthew Cowan notched his first ever CIS goal, heading in a Danny Nielsen corner kick from inside the six yard box.

Another Alberta sub, Ammon Hoefs, made a difference as the long haired shifty striker created a few opportunities for the Bears but it was Trinity Western that got back on the scoreboard in the 84th minute.

The Bears defence was able to clear away a TWU corner kick, but just to midfield where the Spartans regained control. Kekec received a pass inside the Alberta zone, beat his man and then chipped the ball to substitute David Rowse who volleyed the ball into the top right half of net, beyond the challenge of Alberta 'keeper Jas Gill.

Looking down and out in injury time, the Bears drew level just one minute shy of the final whistle when Hoefs deked around his man on the right wing and sent a low cross into the TWU 18 yard box. Substitute Zenon Markevych flicked the ball on goal and past the sliding challenge of Spartan goalie Andrew Kowan.

The draw gives Alberta a 2-0-3 record, while the Spartans' record changes to 2-2-1.

On Sunday the Alberta side will host the Fraser Valley Cascades (2-2-0) at 2:15 PM, while the Spartans travel to Saskatoon for a match with the Huskies.

-TW-

-source UofA sports information

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