VIDEO: WOMEN'S SOCCER HOSTS SASKATCHEWAN AND ALBERTA

SOCCER (CANADA WEST)
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WOMEN'S SOCCER HOSTS SASKATCHEWAN AND ALBERTA

LANGLEY, British Columbia – The Trinity Western women's soccer team is off to a 4-0 start after last weekend beating Regina 2-0 and Manitoba 1-0 but will be in tough this weekend as they host Saskatchewan (1-2-1) Friday and play Alberta (4-0-0) Saturday, a team that is ranked No. 4 in Canada. Both matches are scheduled for 5 p.m.  

Watch the game live here.

Follow the live stats here.



SPARTANS (4-0-0)
CIS Ranking: No. 1
Canada West Standing: 1st (tied)
Last Week: Regina 2-0 W, Manitoba 1-0 W
Streak: 4 Wins (with 2009 play-offs 7 wins)
2009 conference record: 11-2-1 (1st)
2009 CW Championship: 1-1 (2nd)
2009 CIS Championship: 3-0 (1st)
Last CW title: 2008
Last CIS title: 2009
TWU Lifetime vs Saskatchewan: 15-0-1
TWU Lifetime vs. Alberta: 8-3-4

The Spartans continued to roll last weekend as they built upon their unblemished record with wins over Regina (2-0) Friday night and Manitoba (1-0) Saturday night.

Trinity Western, who has returned every starter from last year’s CIS championship squad, has used defence and timely scoring to secure wins in each of their four starts this year.  And in the process they have only given up one goal while scoring seven.

The Spartans are tied with Alberta and UBC for tops in Canada West with a 0.25 goals against average while their keepers have only been forced to make 4.0 saves per game. Veronkia Rogina leads CW with a 1.000 save percentage and a 0.00 goals against average while Kristen Funk is fourth with a 0.50 goals against average and third with a .917 save percentage.

Offensively, TWU is averaging 16.50 shots per game (3rd in CW) and 1.75 goals per game (4th in CW). Striker Nikki Wright leads CW with 5.67 shots per game while Daniela Gerig’s two goals is good for a share of fourth in the conference. The Spartans have received goals from five different players with Gerig, who also has two assists on the year, leading the way.

With so many returning players from last year, coach Graham Roxburgh has a wide variety of options he can turn to. So far, twenty players have seen the pitch. Look for much of the same this weekend as once again veterans like Natalie Boyd (one goal and two assists), Rebecca Ferguson (one goal), Tessa Meyer (one assist), Alexi Foster (one goal), Kristen Santema, Melissa Mobilio, Colleen Webber, Nikki Byrne, Alicia Tesan, and Jillian Dietrich will be counted upon to lead the charges.

HUSKIES (1-2-1)
CIS Ranking: N/A
Canada West Standing: 5th (tied)
Last Week: Lethbridge 9-0 W, Calgary 2-2 T
Streak: 1 Tie
2009-10 conference record: 5-8-1 (8th)
2009-10 CW Championship: N/A
2009-10 CIS Championship: N/A
Last CW title: N/A
Last CIS title: N/A
Saskatchewan Lifetime vs TWU: 0-15-1

The Huskies come to Trinity Western Friday night after a most interesting first four games that saw them open the season with 5-0 and 1-0 home losses to Alberta before going on the road to beat Lethbridge 9-0 last Saturday and then tie Calgary 2-2 Saturday.

Last weekend, the team was led by striker Elizabeth Hudon, this past week’s Canada West player of the week, who had five goals and two assists in two games. The points barrage moved Hudon to the top of the CW points table.

After Hudon, the Huskies Jamie LeMay and Daniela Fuenzalida each have two goals on the year while Kasya Naidu and Amy Byrne have singles. The Huskies are now second in CW in goals with 11 and tied for first in assists with 10.

While the offence exploded this past weekend, through four games this year, the defence, which is led by veterans Maria Rogal and Courtney and Sarah Laverty, has been a weakness as the Huskies have allowed 2.00 goals per game, which is eighth in the conference.

In goal, Marissa Wilford has played every minute of every game but has allowed a league worst eight goals. The second-year from Winnipeg, Man. has just a .667 save percentage and has averaged 4.00 saves per game.

PANDAS (4-0-0)
CIS Ranking: 4th
Canada West Standing: 1st (tied)
Last Week: Calgary 3-1 W, Lethbridge 3-0 W
Streak: 4 W
2009 conference record: 7-5-2 (4th)
2009 CW Championship: 1-1 (3rd)
2009 CIS Championship: N/A
Last CW title: 2001
Last CIS title: 2001
Alberta Lifetime vs. TWU: 3-8-4

The Pandas will provide TWU with likely its toughest test of the season thus far as the Edmonton based club enter the weekend with a 4-0 record this year and will be looking to make a huge statement against the top ranked team in Canada.

In four games, Alberta has scored 12 goals, which is the most in Canada West, and has allowed just one, which is good for a tie with TWU and UBC for top spot.

Offensively, the Pandas have been powered by strikers Heather Lund (tied for CW lead with five goals) and Amanda Black (one goal and two assists), midfielders Carleigh Miller (two goals and two assists) and Elise Emmott (one goal and two assists) and defender Keshia Wallin (two goals and one assist).

While Alberta has filled the nets this year, they’ve also paid great attention to defence as  first-year keeper Kelti Biggs, who has started and finished all four games this year, already has three shutouts and has only had to make a league low 1.75 saves per game.

Helping Biggs out has been Wallin, who is the leader of a young back end that also includes second-year player Shalla Kadima and first-years Rebecca Brandt and Paige Kennedy.

Last Updated: 2010-09-22
Author: Mark Janzen