Game Recap

Soccer (Canada West Championship)
Sunday, November 5, 2006
Men’s Soccer TWU 4 – Calgary 1
Women’s Soccer TWU 1 – UBC 0

MIRROR – MIRROR -Spartans Soccer Sweep Canada West.

LANGLEY, British Columbia – The Trinity Western University men’s and women’s soccer teams are both headed to this years CIS National Championships after the two squads won respective Canada West Gold medals. The women defeated the University of British 1-0 in a tightly contested contest in Regina. The men came out flying and used a 3-0 first half lead to defeat the University of Calgary 4-1 this afternoon in Edmonton.

The two teams traveled nearly identical paths on their way to their respective championships. Both teams were ranked #4 going into the tournament. Both teams defeated the #1 ranked team’s in the CIS to get to the gold medal match. And it is the second Canada West title for both teams, with the men winning last year and the women winning in 2004 when they also won TWU’s first CIS national championship.

“I’m so proud of our girls and the corporate effort that they put forth today. The extra effort and work rate as well as the desire to work hard in closes spaces was there today,” said TWU Head Women’s Coach Graham Roxurgh. “We were able to beat three very good teams this week. I couldn’t have asked for more from our kids.”

Rebecca Ferguson’s lone goal and some timely goal keeping by TWU’s Nikki Turner gave the Spartans a 1-0 win over the UBC thunderbirds Sunday afternoon. Prior to this season the Spartans had only beaten the Thunderbirds once in the six years in the CIS. But this year the Spartans have been able to post two wins in three tries over the cross town rivals. “Nikki made three very good saves for us today,” said Roxburgh. “Her keeping, Becca’s finish and a little extra spark proved to be the difference for us.”

The Spartans were playing today’s match with out Canada West goal scoring leader Carlee O’Brien and midfielder Dana DuMerton. O’Brien sat out with a foot injury, while DuMerton was still recovering from the ten stitches gash that she received in Saturday’s semi-final. TWU will head home tonight, before heading to Victoria on Tuesday night to prepare for the National Championship.

The last school to win both Canada West soccer titles in the same year was the University of Victoria. The Vikes accomplished the feet in 2000.

-Photo by Rob Weitzel - www.sportsshooter.ca

-TW-