Langley, BC…The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades were defeated by their arch rivals Trinity Western University Spartans, 2-1, at Rogers Field, in Langley, BC. The Cascades Canada West record now stands at 0-2-0, while TWU’srecord improves to 3-0-1 for 10 points.
The Cascades came out strong tonight and established they were going to compete with the Spartans right from the opening whistle. Led by their captain Craig Robinson, Chilliwack, BC, UFV marched down the pitch and created several early scoring chances only to be stopped by the Spartans’ goalkeeper Evan Lowther, Surrey, BC. Trinity Western then mounted their own attack on UFV’syoung defense but Mark Village, Abbotsford, BC made several great saves to keep the match scoreless. TWUcontinued to pressure UFVbut the Cascades stopped the Spartans from scoring the match’s first goal. The game continued to be an evenly played affairin the middle of the park until UFV’sColton O’Neill, Abbottsford, BC hit SasaPlavsic, Coquitlam, BC with a pass down the right wing, Plavsicthen hit a streaking KobyByrne, Abbotsford, BC with a pass which Byrne one timed a rocket of a shot that beat Lowtherto give UFVthe lead.
The Cascades continued to pressurethe Spartans defense looking for a second goal. On defense, Village stood his ground making several saves on shots by TWUstrikers. The Cascades led by the one goal at the break.
In the second half, UFV’sdefense continued to keep the powerful Spartan offense at bay, until a break down in the back line enabled veteran forward Jarvis Ambaka, Maraggoli, Kenya to get behind them and score the tying goal beating Village to the near post. The Cascades regrouped after the tying goaland challenged TWU’sdefense having several key opportunities to regain the lead. Cole Almond, Maple Ridge, BC and DaliborPlavsic, Coquitlam, BC each had great opportunitiesto score the go ahead goal but their shots sailed inches wide of the Spartan net. The match continued at an even pace until TWU’s Ambakabroke in behind the Cascades defense a second time and scored the match winning goal with five minutes remaining. “It was heart breaking, we played very well on defense tonight,” said the Cascades goalkeeper Mark Village. “I was proud of the guys.” The Cascades goalkeeper and defense faced 19 TWUshots in the match.
With time running out, UFV’sdefense pinched in and the Cascades narrowly missed tying the match when Colton O’Neill moved up from his defensive position to take a Ryan Liddiard, Kamloops, BC pass and just missed scoring as his shot sailed inches wide of the Spartan net.
“We had some great moments out there tonight, but unfortunatelywe did not hold onto the lead,” said UFVhead coach Alan Errington. “Too many small mistakes tonight. At times we chased the ball instead of sticking to our game plan. We will regroup in practice this week and set our sites on Calgary and Lethbridge.”
The Cascades player of the match was rookie midfielder Justin Sekhon, Abbotsford, BC. The business major shut down the veteran TWUmidfielders from creating any dangerous scoring opportunitiesduring the first half of the match.
UFV 1 0 = 1 (0-2-0)
TWU 0 2 = 2 (3-0-1)
Scoring
First Half:
34:39 UFV K Byrne (S Plavsic)
Second Half:
64:32 TWU J Ambaka(A Phillips)
83:26 TWU J Ambaka
Goalkeepers:
UFV: M Village 5 saves/ TWU: E Lowther 4 saves
Shots on Goal:
UFV: 9/ TWU: 19
Cornerkicks:
UFV: 2/TWU: 4
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