Scheduled Game: @Victoria*

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GAME RESULTS 1 2 T Trinity Western 0 0 0 Victoria 0 1 1 « FINAL

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Game Recap

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPARTANS DROP SECOND OF WEEKEND

VICTORIA - The fourth ranked Trinity Western University women's soccer team fell 1-0 to the University of Victoria Saturday afternoon at Victoria's Centennial Stadium. After both teams traded countless scoring opportunities the Vikes Janelle Smith (Vernon, B.C.) was able to break the scoreless match in the 82rd minute to give the home team the win and hand the Spartans (6-3-1) their second loss of the weekend, while Victoria (5-3-0) won for the second straight night.

"We showed a lot more heart tonight and we were in a battle. Both teams had some great chances and unfortunately both teams missed some chances. All credit to UVIC they hung in there and they battled in a match that was evenly played and could have gone either way," commented TWU head coach Graham Roxburgh. "It was a disappointing road trip for us. We know that we have a lot of work to do, but we will get better and we will respond next weekend."

Smith used her head to avenge last weekend's 2-0 loss to the Spartans. Smith was the beneficiary of a beautiful cross, in front of the net, by Mariel Solsberg (West Vancouver, B.C.). Solsberg was streaking down the far sideline, appeared the slip, but regained her footing and set-up the game winner.

Fittingly, on this Thanksgiving weekend, there was a cornucopia of scoring opportunities that had both teams giving thanks to stellar play between the pipes. Vikes 'keeper Kasia Gwiazda (Warsaw, Poland) turned aside six shots for the shutout, and TWU's Veronika Rogina (2nd year, Surrey, B.C.) made seven saves, with both benefitting from a little luck.

The Vikes caught a lucky bounce at the halfway point of the second half, in one of Trinity Western's best scoring chances. Spartans' striker Daniela Gerig (1st year, Langley, B.C.), who caused plenty of havoc all night in the Vikes' end, found herself in a one-on-one with Gwiazda. Gerig's strike beat the 'keeper and hit the post, ricocheted off the backside of Gwiazda, then caromed back towards the goal only to miss just an inch wide. "We were unlucky that Daniela's great solo effort hit the goal post," commented Roxburgh. "If it finds the net the outcome could have been different."

There were plenty of oh-so-close moments throughout the match. Kendra Flock (Calgary) missed an open net wide left at the start of the second, and again off a free kick in the 76th minute. Rogina robbed Smith on the goal line in the 65th minute. Even in the dying seconds, Rebecca Ferguson (2nd year, Calgary) forced Gwiazda into making a diving save with a wicked strike just inside the box.

The win moves the Vikes into sole possession of fourth place, with top six advancing to the post-season. Trinity Western's loss, their second straight after falling to UBC 3-0 on Friday, creates a tie for first place between TWU and UBC.

The Spartans will remain on the road next week when they will travel across the Valley to face the University College of the Fraser Valley to face the Cascades on Oct. 13. Match time at Bateman Park is set for 1 p.m.

Match Notes: Both teams had 11 shots directed towards the opponents net...TWU finished with six shots on goal, while Victoria finished with eight...the Vikes had the edge in corners at six to three...TWU committed 21 fouls, while the Vikes were called for six infractions...

-TW-

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