Box Score
Scheduled Game: Victoria - Canada West Bronze Medal (Victoria)
Game Recap
Game Recap
MEN’S SOCCER (CANADA WEST BRONZE MEDAL)
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2011
VICTORIA (1) TRINTIY WESTERN (0)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SPARTANS SHUTOUT BY VICTORIA IN BRONZE MEDAL GAME
VICTORIA, British Columbia – The Trinity Western men’s soccer team wrapped up what was a disappointing end to its season by being forced to swallow yet another bitter pill as they fell 1-0 to Victoria in the Canada West bronze medal game Sunday on Field 4 near Centennial Stadium.
After being eliminated from national championship contention Saturday following a 2-1 (4-3 PK) loss to UBC in the Canada West semifinal, the Spartans put up another quality effort in the bronze medal game but once again came up empty as Victoria’s Craig Gorman scored what would turn out to be the game-winning goal in first half stoppage time.
The loss officially ends the Spartans 2011 campaign as they finish with a record of 8-6-2 in Canada West play (8-4-2 in the regular season and 0-2 in the playoffs). The Vikes, who finished first in Canada West in the regular season with a 10-2-2 record are now 11-3-2 overall. However, Victoria’s season will continue this weekend as they will play host to the CIS national championship, starting Thursday.
“In the general run of play we probably didn’t deserve the loss,” said Spartans coach Pat Rohla. “They didn’t do much against us other than one cross that ended up in the back of our net. I think on both days we were the better team but you won’t win unless you score goals and that’s what we lacked this weekend.
“We are very disappointed not to have advanced based on our play but again we need some finish to get results.”
In the first half, the Vikes outshot the Spartans 12-4 but in terms of shots on target it was even, 2-2.
And with the referee close to blowing the first half whistle it looked like the scoreline would reflect what was a fairly even opening half.
But with the clock beyond 45 minutes, Victoria’s Gorman opened the scoring and gave the home side all the offence they would need for the win.
The Vikes Cam Hundai sent a cross into the area that ricocheted off Gorman and then off Spartans midfielder Brayden Gant before pinballing it’s way past TWU keeper Andrew Fink.
In the second half, the Spartans came out looking determined not to end their season on a sour note.
Trinity Western outshot Victoria 9-5 in the second half but couldn’t capitalize on a few of the Vikes defensive miscues as some timely shot blocking from Victoria’s Gavin Barrett and Toshi Hayashi held the Spartans at bay.
Trinity Western continued to press throughout the half but fifth-year Victoria goalie Daniel Kilpatrick was better on all five shots that hit that target as he finished with seven saves to earn the shutout.
Trinity Western’s Fink had six saves in the loss.
After going to the national championship five years in a row, the Spartans have now fallen short each of the past two years.
For the Spartans, this was the last game for graduating players Dan Lowen, James Farenhorst, Andrew Kowan, Liam McAllister, Shawn Parkes, Ioannis Tsoulouhas, Goran Vitic, Nathan Rubuliak and Fink.
Game Notes – Trinity Western’s David Malamura (87’) and Spencer Schmidt (90’) were shown yellow cards in the match…Victoria had eight corners to TWU’s seven…
-TW-