Trinity Western University’s Spartans Women’s Soccer and Cross Country have wrapped up exceptional seasons.
This year was the highest ranking season in Spartan history for women’s track and field. Led by all-star Sarah Inglis, the track and field team ranked second at U Sports Nationals, surpassing last year’s fourth place finish. Inglis took fifth overall.
Despite torrential winds and rain, it was the first time that the women have won back-to-back conference titles in cross-country. Spartans Track and Field Head Coach Laurier Primeau said, “There is so much to take pride in with the TWU cross country team.”
The team also ranked second in the Canada West Championship, where Inglis ranked first and was named Female Athlete of the Year. Cross country coach Mark Bomba was named Coach of the Year.
“The performances speak for themselves,” said Primeau of the stellar season. TWU Spartans have placed four individuals in the top 10 in the nation, earned a U Sports silver medal for the women’s team and seventh place for the men’s squad, and won a Canada West gold medal for the women and silver medal for the men. “It’s been a steady demonstration of year-on-year improvement.”
TWU’s women’s soccer team also finished an outstanding season, placing second overall and winning silver medals in the U Sports women’s soccer championship. This was the third consecutive year that TWU’s women have gone on to the National Championships—an honour held only by two other teams in the history of the CIS.
“It was a remarkable season for us, considering the influx of so many new players,” said Spartans Women’s Soccer Coach Graham Roxburgh. “It’s an incredible accomplishment to have won the Canada West Championship and make our third consecutive final. We’re disappointed we didn’t win our third championship in a row, but we’re incredibly proud of how our young team performed this year.”
Jessica King, a fifth-year forward from Liverpool, England, became the first TWU women’s soccer player to be named U Sports Player of the Year. “Jess is a very special player who continues to have an outstanding season,” Roxburgh said. “She is so worthy of this recognition.”
Additionally, first-year Seina Kashima was named Canada West Rookie of the Year, while Roxburgh was named Canada West Coach of the Year for the third time.
For more information about TWU’s Spartans, please visit www.gospartans.ca.