Oct 22 Spartans Snap Pandas Streak

Women’s Soccer (conference)
Saturday, October 22, 05

For Immediate Release

Spartans Snap Pandas' Streak
TWU’s Ingwersen scores twice to end Alberta’s unbeaten streak at six

edmonton, Alberta – Trinity Western University forward Melanie Ingwersen (1^st yr, Abbotsford, BC) scored two second half goal’s to give the Spartans a 3-1, come from behind, victory over the University of Alberta Pandas. The win moves TWU (6-4-1) into a tie with Alberta (5-3-5) for the fourth and final Canada West playoff spot. A loss to the Pandas would have essentially eliminated the Spartans from a post season berth.

“We had difficulty clearing the ball in the first half and that caused us some problems,” said TWU head coach Graham Roxburgh. “But I was very pleased with our overall play and how we responded in the second half. Brittany Heinrich (3^rd yr, defender, Maple Ridge, BC) and Melanie Ingwersen, both had outstanding games today.”

Alberta midfielder Lisa Jennings (St. Albert, AB) opened the scoring in the final minute of the first half. Jennings took a square ball and got in behind TWU keeper Ali Penner (1^st yr, Abbotsford, BC) to give the home squad the 1-0 half time lead.

Ingwersen scored her first goal of the night in the 64^th minute when she took a feed from Dana DuMerton (1^st yr, forward, Abbotsford, BC) went through the Alberta defenders and placed the ball neatly between a charging Veronique Mayer’s (Edmonton, AB) legs and into the back of the Pandas net.

Twelve minutes later, 76^th, Ingwersen made it 2-1 for TWU when she once again got behind the Alberta defenders and slotted the ball to the right side of the Pandas net.

Fifth year forward Ashlee Davison (Maple Ridge, BC) got the insurance goal for the Spartans three minutes later. Davison was given a nice feed from the midfield which enabled her to beat the Alberta back line and go in alone on the Pandas net. Mayer did not have much of a chance as Davison placed the ball nicely into the open net to make the final 3-1.

The win over the Pandas gives the Spartans the postseason tie-beaker if the two teams should remain tied for the final Canada West playoff spot. With a game in-hand TWU currently hold’s the tie-beakers on Alberta, Lethbridge and Saskatchewan, all of whom the Spartans are battling with for the final playoff spot. First place UBC and second place Victoria clinched play-off spots with their respective wins earlier today, while fourth place Calgary has locked up the third spot as the Canada West hosts. Even if the Pandas do not make the Canada West playoffs their season will not be over as they will continue play the following week as hosts of the CIS women’s soccer national championship.

TWU hold’s their postseason dreams in their own hands. If the Spartans win each of their four remaining matches they will clinch the final playoff spot. A tie or a loss would mean that TWU would need Alberta to tie or lose one of their final two matches

The Spartans now have a long overnight bus ride to Saskatoon, SK where they will take on the University of Saskatchewan Huskies (4-7-3). Match time on Sunday is set for noon at the University of Saskatchewan.  After Saskatchewan the Spartans will have a day off before they take on the Regina Cougars (0-14-0) Tues. afternoon in Regina.

TWU will then hop on a plane and head home where they will close out the Canada West season against the University of Lethbridge (4-4-5), Thursday night at 6 pm, and the University of Calgary (6-2-4) Saturday at noon. Alberta finishes the season with UBC tomorrow afternoon and at the University of Regina and the University of Manitoba next weekend.

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