It has been a busy two weeks for the Spartan men and women as the soccer season began with a bang.

On Friday, Sept. 5, the Spartan men opened against the University of Lethbridge to a packed Spartan field. The Faithful were not disappointed as Dan Lowen scored twice in the first ten minutes, followed two minutes later by a powerful shot off the crossbar and in by Nathan Square-Briggs.

So here is the situation: This column was given to me for two reasons. First, so I can write about whatever I want, when I want. The other is a chance to give Trinity Western University’s sports fans the opportunity to get involved with sports section. In this column, I will write about stories or developments that are current in sports that have captured my attention.

Now before I get into my article, most of those who know me at all know very well that the Vancouver Canucks are my least favourite National Hockey League franchise. Thus, writing a seemingly controversial article might seem like an act of hatred towards my dreaded home-province team. However, this is not merely hate mail, this is a whole-hearted explanation as to why the Vancouver Canucks have not won a Stanley Cup in their 38-year-old lifespan.

The problem is their inability to select the rights to available amateur players who will develop into bona fide NHL superstars, i.e. the draft.

With: Matthew Keller,
Titans Soccer
Hometown: Forest Lake, Minnesota

MH: Which is the better of the Keller’s: Keller Graduate School of Management; the City of Keller, Texas; or Helen Adams Keller?

Matt: Helen Adams Keller. She is an inspiration to the world.

MH: Which teams will faceoff in the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final?

Matt: According to my source for everything European soccer John Kim, it’s gong to be a Barcelona - Chelsea final with Barcelona coming out on top.

MH: In a single word, explain the atmosphere at a Minnesota Wild home game.

For the third time in just four years, the Trinity Western University Bombers are the CMCHL Champions. The 5-4 victory, in what is now being described by some as the most epic game in Bombers history, was won in overtime off a redirect by Bomber’s forward David Giesbrecht.
After a nail-biting 5-4 semi-final victory over the CLA Canucks just one week prior, the second-seeded Bombers were representing TWU in the CMCHL championships as they challenged the sixth-seeded Uptown Mayhem. TWU split their regular season series with the Mayhem (1-1), with both teams scoring a combined eight goals in those contests.
The Bombers came out strong, scoring two goals; however by the first few minutes of the third period, the Mayhem had tied the game up at two. The Bombers came right back by scoring two more of their own, making it 4-2, and seemed to be on their way to victory. Yet, with time ticking down on the Mayhem, they scored less than ten seconds later and soon after another.
It almost all came crashing down on the Bombers when an Uptown forward found himself on a breakaway with just seconds left to play in the third period. With the championship title on the line, Bombers goaltender Marc Ragusin robbed the Mayhem forward with his glove.
The third period ended at a 4-4 deadlock, forcing both teams to prepare for overtime. It didn’t take long from there however, as just three minutes into the overtime period, Bomber’s defenseman Brock Grin fired a shot from his blue line position, which redirected off of his teammate David Giesbrecht’s leg and went into the back of the Mayhem goal. The Bombers won the game 5-4, and claimed their ultimate prize.
The Bombers finish the year with a regular season and playoff combined record of 20-3-1. Bombers captain Jon Adams led the team in the regular season in both goals (26) and points (51), while centerman Gareth Jones led the team in the post-season with five goals and nine points in three games played.

With three different sports and six different teams, there were 112 regular season games played with 186 games played overall. In other words, the 2007-2008 season brought a lot of action, and over the course of the entire school year much may be forgotten. Thus, behold, a brief recap of 2007-2008 Trinity Western University Spartans action.
The Spartans men’s soccer team had the most successful season of all of TWU’s CIS Athletics groups. The boys posted an impressive 11-2-1 record during the regular season before going on to claim Canada West Gold and fifth place at the CIS Championships at the University of British Columbia. Fifth-year midfielder Nick Perugini was named Canada West Player of the Year.
The 2007-2008 season was a very successful campaign for the women as well. The girls closed out the regular season with just three losses (9-3-2), and placed second behind the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in Canada West standings. The women went on to lose to the same UBC team in the Canada West semi-finals.
As of Feb. 26, 2008, the men are ranked third in the CIS power rankings, while the women, who are set to host the CIS Soccer Championships next year through November 6-9, 2008, are ranked tenth.
The men’s volleyball squad made the playoffs after completing their regular season with an 8-10 record, which was good for sixth place in the 10-team Canada West Conference. In the post season, they were beaten by the University of Winnipeg, who finished second in the West.
The Spartans women also lost in their first playoff series. After finishing the season with a 14-6 record, the girls faced the University of Alberta – who also finished 14-6 – in the Canada West quarter finals. After three very tight games, U of A knocked off TWU. A few weeks later, Spartans captain Saralyn Stel was named the winner of the Thérèse Quigley Award for outstanding student-athlete.
In basketball, the men finished with a 4-19 record, which was good for fifth in the Pacific division, and 12th in Canada West standings. With new coach Scott Allen on board, as well as new players Jacob Doerksen, Tonner Jackson and Louis Hurd joining the fold, the Spartans look to rebound after a disappointing 2007-2008 campaign. The Spartans women finished fifth in the Pacific division as well, with an 8-15 record. Their 16 points on the season placed them 15th overall in Canada West standings. After a very strong start to the season, in which they went 7-4 up until the end of November, the women went 1-11 from then on. With a year of experience under their belt, as well as the off-season acquisition of Nanaimo, B.C. native and Dover Bay Secondary graduate Keely Goertzen, the women look forward to the upcoming season.

MH: As a goalie, what is the biggest difference between playing roller hockey compared to ice hockey?

MR:The speed of the game. In ice you have to move side to side a lot faster. Also, the puck is easier to lift in inline so you have to worry about the shooter going up high.

MH: Will the Green Bay Packers make the playoffs without Brett Favre?

MR: I think they can. The NFC is a really weak conference.

MH: Which team improved the most after this year’s NHL trade deadline?

The Spartans men’s basketball team seems to have finally taken a turn for the better. After a season in which the team was plagued with bad news, the Spartans recently announced the hiring of their new head coach Scott Allen. The Spartans also confirmed that 6′6″ Abbotsford native Jacob Doerksen, a former CIS Championship Tournament All-Star and 2006 CIS Rookie of the Year, has committed to play for TWU for the upcoming 2008-2009 campaign. Columbia Bible College’s All-Star guard Louis Hurd will also be joining the Spartans fold this upcoming season.