Scheduled Game: @Saskatchewan*

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GAME RESULTS 1 2 T Trinity Western 1 1 2 « FINAL Saskatchewan 1 0 1

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Game Recap

Men's Soccer (Canada West)
Sunday, September 21, 2008
TWU Spartans (2) at the University of Saskatchewan Huskies (1)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPARTANS END ROAD TRIP WITH WIN
-Rowse plays hero with last minute goal

SASKATOON - The Trinity Western University men's soccer team handed the University of Saskatchewan Huskies their first loss at home as the Spartans David Rowse (4th year, forward, St. Albert, Alta.) scored in the final minute to give the visitors a 2-1 victory Sunday afternoon at Potash Corp Park in Saskatoon.

The fourth year forward took advantage of a misplay by the Huskies defenders and was able to go in on the Saskatchewan net, where he put the ball past keeper Mark Diakiw to give the Spartans the win. The victory moves TWU into fourth place in Canada West with a record of 3-2-1, while the loss drops Saskatchewan into fifth place at 2-2-2.

"We are fortunate to get the three points, but in the second half we really worked our way into it and got better and better as the game progressed and I am very happy for that," said TWU head coach Al Alderson. "We are showing some glimpses and signs of what we can be and we are hoping that as the season goes on we will continue to get better and better at playing more consistently over longer stretches."

The end of the match was considerably different from the start. The Huskies, who held an 11-4 edge in shots in the first half, had the Spartans playing in their own end of the park form most of the half and only some fine defensive play kept Saskatchewan off of the score-sheet in the early going. "We were very sluggish in the first half. Saskatchewan played really well and we were quite fortunate that they couldn't put away their chances," commented Alderson on his team's sluggish first half play. "I was pleased with the way we held tight and defended very well in our third of the park."

TWU midfielder Mustafa Demirci (5th year, Ankara, Turkey) got the opener in the 25th minute on a Spartan counter attack. Demirci got open in the centre of the park and then from over 35 yards out he sent a rocket just under the Huskies' crossbar to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead. "Mustafa's goal was a beautiful hit to give us the lead, even though we probably did not deserve it. It was a very fortunate turn of events for us," said Alderson.

Saskatchewan's Jerson Barandica-Hamilton responded 17 minutes later for the Huskies. Barandica-Hamilton scored his league-leading sixth goal of the season when he was able to turn a Spartan defender and slot the ball past Trinity Western keeper Andrew Kowan (2nd year, Richmond, B.C.) and into the top left corner of the net. "Saskatchewan's goal, which evened the score, was totally fair and appropriate as they deserved to be in the lead as apposed to being tied," commented Alderson on the Huskies' goal.

The two teams would finish the half tied at 1-1.

The second half saw the visitors play considerably better then the first half. The Spartans were able to get out of their own end of the park more often as each team had equal numbers of scoring opportunities in the final 45 minutes. "We suggest to the guys a few adjustments at half time that we hoped would help us to play better. And they worked as we came out with fire, intensity, passion and heart and we got better and better as the game went on and for a team that is on the road after a long bus trip to be able to do that made me very excited," said Alderson.

TWU's Kowan made five saves to earn the victory, while Saskatchewan's Diakiw made three saves in the loss.

Next up for the Spartans is the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades on Saturday, September 27. Match time at TWU is set for 7:15 p.m.

Match notes: the Huskies out-shot the Spartans 17-9 and had a 4-3 edge in corner kicks....

-TW-

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