Langley, BC…The TWU Spartans won their 10th Canada West regular season match on Friday night defeating the UFV Cascades, 2-1, at Rogers Field, in Langley, BC, originally a Cascade home game, the venue was switch to Langley, when the Cascades home pitch was diemed un playable due to the rain fall the past week in the Fraser Valley. The Cascades Canada West record now stands at 6-4-1 for 19 points with one match remaining against UBC on Saturday night. The Cascades currently sit in fifth place going into this final weekend with several teams behind them in the standings still to play two more matches before Sunday night. The Cascades are assured at post season berth, but whether they host or travel next weekend is to be determined.
Tonight’s match between the two rivals was excellent, the first half was filled with great scoring chances as both teams had a lot on the line with the outcome of the game. The Cascades held their own against the CIS number three rank team, veteran Carly Neeson, Maple Ridge, BC set up several great scoring opportunities early in the match only to be stopped by TWU’s defense. UFV continued all half to pressure the Spartans, several great runs down the right wing by first year forward Danica Kump, Surrey, BC caused the Spartan defense to tighten up close to half. Kump had one explosive break but she was stopped by the TWU goalkeeper, Kristen Funk, Calgary, Alberta right before the half.
Chantelle Biagioni, the fifth year senior goalkeeper from Pitt Meadows, BC also was excellent in the Cascades net as she faced several shots that would not get past her from the very talented Spartan forwards. The match was scoreless at the break.
The second half opened the way the first ended with great end to end chances for both teams to score the first goal of the game. That break would come in the 61st minute as TWU’s Nikki Byrne, Langley, BC hit Krista Gommeringer, Calgary, Alberta with a perfect pass and the rookie beat Biagioni to give the home team the lead. TWU came right back at UFV ‘s defense and would score the eventual game winner two minutes later as Gommeringer would score her 12th regular season goal of the season.
The Cascades did not quit, down two goals UFV kept pressuring TWU and late in referees time Paige Friesen, Abbotsford, BC set up Kump for her third tally of her rookie season. “Kump played extremely well tonight,’ commented UFV head coach Rob Giesbrecht.
Despite the great effort by UFV tonight, time ran out before they could score the equalizer, leaving the Cascades still trailing Regina by two points for the very important home quarterfinal playoff game with one match remaining tomorrow. “I was very proud of our effort, our defense played well tonight. Kara (Delwo) had another strong game as did Biagioni,” said Giesbrecht. Delwo was named the Cascades “player of the match.”
Biagioni made nine saves in the loss as she faced 19 shots on goal. Funk stopped five Cascades shots as UFV recorded 11 shots at the TWU net.
UFV 0 1 = 1 (6-4-1)
TWU 0 2 = 2 (10-1-0)
Scoring:
First Half
No Scoring
Second Half:
60:56 TWU Gommeringer (Byrne)
63:02 TWU Gommeringer (Castello)
90:00 UFV Kump (Friesen)
Goalkeepers:
UFV: C Biagioni 9 saves/ TWU: K Funk 5 saves
Shots on Goal:
UFV: 11/ TWU: 19
Corner Kicks:
UFV: 2/ TWU: 4
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