Scheduled Game: LETHBRIDGE*

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GAME RESULTS 1 2 T Lethbridge 0 0 0 Trinity Western 1 2 3 « FINAL

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Game Recap

WOMEN’S SOCCER (CANADA WEST)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2009
NO. 1 TWU SPARTANS (3) VS THE UNIVERSITY OF PRONGHORNS (0)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPARTANS TIE TEAM RECORD FOR WINS IN A SEASON WITH VICTORY

LANGLEY, British Columbia – It was expected to be a lopsided match with the No. 1 Trinity Western University women’s soccer team at 9-1-0 taking on the winless 0-9-0 University of Lethbridge Pronghorns. But the match was far from that, even though the Spartans won 3-0 they only held a 1-0 lead through the 84th minute.

Trinity Western controlled much of the play but despite outshooting the Pronghorns 17-2 were not able to get shots on target until late in the match.

“They defended very well and made it difficult for us to find space in the attacking third. We didn’t play with sharpness around the goal and the times that our pace allowed us to get behind them and break them down our execution in the attacking third just weren’t there,” commented TWU head coach Graham Roxburgh. “A little bit of our problem tonight was that sometime we possessed too much and we just had too many touches on the ball. I never felt that we were threatened, but we really didn’t do a good job of killing the game off and all credit to Lethbridge the defended really well.”

Melissa Mobilio (Coquitlam, B.C.) opened the scoring in the 28th minute off of a penalty kick. The PK came as a result of a strong run by Alicia Tesan (Vancouver). Tesan got past the Pronghorns left back was headed in on the Lethbridge net where she was fouled in the penalty area. Mobilio then stepped up and slotted the PK to give TWU the 1-0 lead. “The ball into Tesan and her running was excellent and it was great to see Melissa get the goal as she has been playing great for us and her work rate off the ball was excellent,” said Roxburgh.

The Spartans buzzed around the Pronghorns net for the majority of the match but were unable to get any solid opportunities as the Lethbridge defence kept clogging the passing lanes. The one goal lead was precarious as the Pronghorns were always looking for a counter attack.

TWU finally got the insurance goal in the 85thminute. The Spartans had held the ball in the Pronghorns defensive third for an extensive stretch and after a number of consecutive shots TWU defender Colleen Webber (Calgary) found herself open with the ball at the top of the penalty area. Webber made no mistake as she hammered the ball into the right side of the net to give the Spartans the 2-0 lead. “Colleen Webber’s finish was fantastic and even though it was late it was good to get the insurance goal,” commented Roxburgh.

Five minutes later Tesan was at it again. This time TWU forward Alexi Foster (Fort Langley, B.C.) found Tesan at the top of the Lethbridge six. Tesan moved in, and with the keeper to her back, heal kicked the ball into the lower right corner of the Horns net to make the final 3-0 for the Spartans.

TWU keeper Kristen Funk (Calgary) made one save to earn her sixth shutout of the season, while Lethbridges’ Ashley Cowen (Calgary) made four saves in the loss.

Next up for the Spartans is their final home weekend of the 2009 regular season. On Fri. Oct. 23 TWU hosts the University of Alberta Pandas and on Sat. Oct. 24 they host the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. Match time on both nights is set for 5 p.m.
“I’m pleased that we won, but we have a lot of work to do,” concluded Roxburgh.

Match Notes: TWU is now 12-2-2 lifetime against Lethbridge…the last time the Spartans lost to the Horns was Oct. 2, 2004 – the same year TWU won its first CIS title…with their ninth win TWU ties the program record for Canada West wins in a season. They have hit the mark four times prior to this year: 2008 (9-2-3), 2007 (9-3-2), 2006 (9-4-2) and 2004 (9-2-3)… Coach Roxburgh also commented on the fine play of rookie midfielder Natalie Boyd (Surrey, B.C.). “Natalie put in a no nonsense tidy midfield performance tonight. She battled and moved the ball very well.”

-TW-

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