Game Recap

Women’s Soccer (CIS National Tournament)
Sunday, November 12, 2006
TWU (1) McGill (0)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TWU FINISHES FIFTH IN THE NATION
Nicki Turner makes two game-saving stops to give Spartans 1-0 win over Martlets

VICTORIA, British Columbia – The TWU women continued with their strong play in consolation with a 1-0 victory over McGill University Sunday morning for 5th place at the CIS National Tournament.  Nicki Turner (1st year, Langley), who played in net for the Spartans in the second half, was a big reason they came out with the win.  Both TWU keepers were sharp.

“They both did extremely well today.  They’ve had fantastic seasons, both of them in their rookie year.  It’s been very hard to choose who should play.  Veronika [Rogina (1st year, Surrey, B.C.)] did fine, made a couple really nice saves at crucial times in the first half, and how Nicki [Turner] played in the second half, she made a game-saving stop with about three or four minutes left and that typified her season.” commented TWU Head Coach Graham Roxburgh.

Out in the rain and cold, McGill appeared to be hitting on every cylinder early, controlling most of the play for the first 20 minutes of the match.  TWU’s Veronika Rogina saw plently of first-half action in the Spartan net, but stopped all the Martlets’ shots, including one that almost bobbled back across the line, but Rogina fell back with it and ensured it would not count one on the board for McGill.

The Spartans were having trouble keeping up with the pace of the game.  “I thought we were a little lackluster to start,” said Roxburgh. “We were slow to get to tackles, slow to close space; in many ways we were a bit fortunate not to go down a goal or two early on.  With about 10 minutes left in the half, I think we woke up and started to play.”

Out-shooting the Spartans 8-1 in the first, Martlet midfielders Antonietta Pascale (Beaconsfield, Que.) and Morag Mitchell-Carval, Brossard, Que.) had great chances to score.  Forward Carolyne Pelletier (Ottawa, O.N.) led the Martlets with four shots, but did not hit the net.  Perhaps the best chance of the game was a volley from substitute  Sarah Chmielewski (Plainfield, N.J.) in the 68th minute, but Turner was there for the save.

The only goal in the game was scored on TWU’s first shot, coming in the 43rd minute. Taking a pass across the box from Lindsey Rohla (4th year, Langley, B.C.), midfielder Melanie Ingwerson (2nd year, Abbotsford, B.C.) was able to capitalize on the single opportunity of the half.

“We got balls behind them, and Melanie took her goal superbly.  Lindsay played a very intelligent touch to her to create an opportunity and Melanie took it very well,” said Roxburgh of the goal.

The game-saving stop came from a strike by Eloise Vandal (Laval, Que.) that ricocheted off a player in the box in the 90th minute.  Turner was able to react for a second time after seeing the ball change direction, and she got her hands on the ball, with-holding the rebound.

The match marks the ninth win for the Trinity Western University women in their last 11, while the McGill Martlets experience just their second loss of the season, the first coming by default when the team, down 2-0, would not take the field late Wednesday in the quarter-final against UBC.

The Spartans lost to the York University Lions 1-0 in quarter-final play at Nationals, and the win over McGill culminates their bounce back to win the consolation side, claiming 5th in the country.

“Superb display corporately from the group to finish that well, especially with the disappointment of it not being a medal game.  Obviously, I’m delighted that we finished on a winning note, and very proud of the way we played,” said TWU’s Head Coach Roxburgh.

Match Notes: Shots: McGill 13 TWU 3...SOG McGill 6 TWU 2...

- TWU -

-Jay Duke, TWU Sports Information Assistant