Having a potent offense can make all the difference.
The Trinity Western Spartans proved that on Friday as the top ranked women’s soccer team in Canada outlasted the UNBC Timberwolves to come away with a 5-2 win from Masich Place Stadium.
It didn’t take long for the Spartans to show off some of their world-class skill as a back-heel pass from Rachel Hutchinson found the boot of Kathryn Harvey who deflected one past UNBC goalkeeper Madi Doyle in the ninth minute for a 1-0 lead.
Sofia Jones responded in the 35th minute with a great effort down the sidelines picking the far corner and ripping a shot past Spartans netminder Hannah Miller to even the game.
Trinity Western capitalized on a big moment before the end of the half as Jenaya Robertson pinpointed a perfect shot past Doyle to reclaim the Spartans edge before the end of the half.
The backbreaker for UNBC came at the beginning of the second half where Harvey notched her second of the game in the 52nd minute followed by a single from Kristen Sakaki seven minutes later putting the game out of reach.
“I think the Timberwolves gave us a hard-fought battle. They made us work for that win,” said Sakaki, postgame.
“As a team we stayed in the battle, stayed in the fight, and ultimately came through with our goals. We are thankful, for sure.”
POSTGAME: @JenayaRobertson talks after her @TWUwsoc team tops @UNBCWSoccer 5-2 in Prince George. Robertson with with her 6th goal of the @CanadaWest season. pic.twitter.com/DmNYV3ZnBi
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) October 5, 2019
Paige Payne put the T-Wolves back within two courtesy of a feed from Lydia Lavigne before finishing off the rush with a hard boot that blew by Miller and into the top corner.
“They have some amazing players. Their goals were top class,”.
“Kudos to them, those are hard ones for any goalie to save. We went through practice this week and gave it our all. Despite the score, we kept pushing and played great soccer,” added Payne.
POSTGAME: @UNBCWSoccer‘s @PaigePayne74 talks after her team’s 5-2 loss to the @TWUSpartans despite a gritty effort from the @UNBC side. TWolves regroup and take on the @UFVWomensSoccer on Sunday! pic.twitter.com/D1EOBZNCtw
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) October 5, 2019
Trinity Western improves to 8-0-1 on the season and will travel to Calgary for a titanic clash against the sixth-ranked Calgary Dinos who are 7-0-2.
UNBC drops to an even 3-3-3 on the season with their final home game coming up Sunday at Noon against the Fraser Valley Cascades (2-3-4).
This will be the final time Julia Babicz, Ashley Volk and Jenna Wild will be playing as a member of the Timberwolves at Masich Place Stadium.
Payne states they will take every positive they can from the loss against Trinity and put it towards the Cascades.
“It’s going to be an emotional day, on Sunday,”.
“We are going to play UFV, and bring this momentum. We hope to finish this, compete hard, and get the results that we want.”
The top six teams in the Pacific Division make the playoffs, UNBC currently holds down the fifth spot.
In men’s action the Timberwolves battled to a 1-1 draw in Langley against Trinity Western.
Anthony Preston rippled the onion bag in the 40th minute.
Rob Goodey made seven saves in the draw for the 4-5-3 Timberwolves.
The Spartans are 6-4-1 on the season.
Both teams play again tonight at 7:15 in Langley.
POSTGAME: Hussein Behery of @UNBCMSoccer talks the Timberwolves’ 1-1 draw with the @TWUSpartans, plus the current state of the @CanadaWest playoff picture. @UNBC and TWU clash again tomorrow at 7:15 PM! pic.twitter.com/LpRR9IaqLY
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) October 5, 2019