The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades defeated their arch rivals, the Trinity Western University Spartans, 2-1, at Bateman Park, in Abbotsford, BC. The Cascades record improves to 3-3-0 for 9-points in the CWUAA.
Coming off their victory, on Saturday, over UBC, 2-0, the Cascades came out strong on Sunday and continued to play excellent soccer as they battled the CIS number 4 ranked TWU Spartans. The Cascades established the tempo of play early by winning their share of “loose balls” in the middle of field, the team defense was excellent as they were able to contain one of the most powerful CIS offenses and keep the Spartan strikers from having clear shots at UFV’s goalkeeper Chantelle Biagioni, Pitt Meadows, BC who was brilliant for a second straight game. Biagioni and the Cascade defense have only allowed 2 goals in their last 6 halves and the team now sports a meager 1.00 goals against average.
While the Spartans challenged the Cascades defense all afternoon, the Cascades offense was slowly mounting an attack that paid off for the game’s first goal late in the first half. As she has done all season veteran defender Lyndsay Munro, Maple Ridge, BC won the ball at midfield and sent the ball back into TWU’s defensive zone and after several players fought for control of the ball, the Cascades Danielle Schmidt, Abbotsford, BC stole the ball and beat TWU’s goalkeeper Kristen Funk, Calgary, AB by shooting the ball over Funk’s head into the Spartan net. The Cascades held on as TWU pressured one last time before half.
In the second half, the Cascades withstood a clinic of why TWU is the two-time defending CIS National Champions. Led by Biagioni, Munro and Captain Megan Webster, Abbotsford, BC the Cascades played tremendous defense holding off the Spartan offense. With five minutes remaining UFV was awarded a free kick outside of TWU’s box after the initial shot was taken UFV’s Caitlin Blondin, Abbotsford, BC shot the ball towards the Trinity Western net, the ball bounce over Funk’s head and into the net giving UFV a two-goal lead.
The Spartans went right back to work attacking the UFV defense and after a scrum in front of the Cascade net Nikki Wright, Cloverdale, BC beat Biagioni to put TWU on the board. The Spartans had one last opportunity to tie the game but UFV held on for the weekend sweep and 6-team points.
“This was a big day for our program,” said UFV Head Coach Rob Giesbrecht. Giesbrecht is a graduate of TWU and coached with TWU’s soccer program for five years. “We stayed to our game plan for a second straight game and played as a team and earned valuable points in the standings.”
TWU 0 1 = 1
UFV 1 1 = 2
Scoring:
First Half:
40:00 UFV Schmidt
Second Half:
85:00 UFV Blondin
87:00 TWU Wright (Gerig)
Goalkeepers:
UFV C Biagioni W Saves: 12
TWU C Funk L Saves: 8
Shots on Goal:
TWU 19/ UFV 18
Corner Kicks:
TWU 3/ UFV 4
Players of the Match:
TWU: N Wright
UFV: C Biagioni
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