Sept 14 Former National Champs Battle

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Former National Champs Battle
TWU and UBC tie 2-2 in match between last two CIS champs

Vancouver, British Columbia - The defending CIS women’s soccer national champion Trinity Western University and the 2002, 2003 national champion University of British Columbia tied 2-2 to open the Canada West conference play Wednesday night at UBC's Point Grey Campus.

The defending champs had to come from behind twice before they were able to earn the point against the Thunderbirds. The Spartans have never beaten the Thunderbirds at UBC in Canada West play. The last time that they were able to earn a point was a 1-1 tie in October of 2001.

 "I'm pleased that we came back and showed a lot of aggression at the end of the match. It was a gritty performance," said TWU Head Coach Graham Roxburgh. "The 2-2 draw was a fair result as either team could have come away with full points."

Senior midfielder Angela Trauter (Langley, BC) headed a looping Lindsay Rohla (3rd yr, midfield, Langley, BC) corner kick over an outstretched Hannah Shoichet (Victoria, BC) in the 75th minute for the 2-2 goal. Substitute striker Ariane Williams (New Westminster, BC) had put the T-Birds ahead in the 59th, slipping a low shot just under a diving Alison Penner (1st yr, keeper, Abbotsford, BC), but UBC couldn’t put the Spartans away.

T-Bird forward Janine Kerr (North Vancouver, BC), who fed a pretty ball through to Williams on the go-ahead goal, opened the scoring just three minutes into the opening half after fullback Amy Bobb (Vancouver, BC) chipped the defence to send her in alone. Kerr was one-on-one from 30 yards out and slotted it past Penner into the left corner.

The Spartans didn't waste any time tying the game, as fifth-year forward Ashlee Davison (Maple Ridge, BC) evened the count at the five-minute mark, banging home a loose ball following a corner that left Shoichet down and out after a collision with TWU defender Whitney Agassiz (3rd yr, Salmon Arm, BC). Midfielder Lindsay Rohla recorded two assists for the visitors.

Trinity Western outshot UBC 10-6 but quality chances were even. Senior UBC midfielder Heather Smith (New Westminster, BC) had three of her own - two that just sailed just high and one in the dying minutes that was turned aside nicely by Penner. It was also a fairly chippy game that featured 33 combined fouls and five yellow cards, three to the Spartans. UBC had four corners to TWU’s three.

The tie extends TWU’s Canada West unbeaten streak to 14 matches, breaking the previous record of 13 set in the 2001-02 season.

Next up for the Spartans is their home opener against the University of Victoria Vikes. Match time on Friday, September 16 is scheduled for 5 pm.

-TW-

Last Updated: 2009-09-03
Author: Scott Stewart
Email: ssstew@twu.ca