Record-breaking soccer weekend
Both Spartans men and women soccer teams took crucial games in the battle of the West in the last two weeks.
After two disappointing losses to UBC and UVIC, the Spartans men were faced with a daunting challenge as they squared off against the University of Alberta followed by the University of Saskatchewan on a Western Canada road trip on Sept. 20 and 21. The men were up to the challenge as they went ahead with a 2-2 tie at the University of Alberta and then a 2-1 win in the final minutes against the University of Saskatchewan. Substitute David Rowse was the hero in the 89th minute to close out a successful weekend away from home.
Then on Saturday, Sept. 27, the men met University of the Fraser Valley at Trinity Western University. The men played a tight match that appeared to spend more time with the Spartans on defence. Thanks to some great goal keeping the match remained a 0-0 draw.
The Spartans women entered the pitch on Saturday, Sept. 20 to face their Greater Vancouver rivals: the UFV Cascades. Dominating the field, the Spartans gained an early lead not ten minutes into the contest from striker Dana DuMerton. As the half was nearly over, the Cascades netted their first goal of the Canada West season to put the game on even terms. However, in the final minute, forward Daniela Gerig put the Spartans back on top. The second half ran very similar to the first, with the home team controlling the ball and taking shot after shot at the Cascade keeper. A few minutes into the second half, CIS player of the week Nikki Wright practically walked the ball into the net, putting the final stamp on the 3-1 victory.
“[Nikki] has the ability to beat players, is a natural finisher and has adapted very well into our program. This is only the beginning of what I believe could be a very special career” commented Coach Graham Roxburgh after the game. “We knew when we recruited her that we had added a very talented and special player.”
Roxburgh had more to celebrate than just a simple win. This triumph was his 100th career win dating back to September 1999 when he led the Trinity squad to a 2-1 victory over UFV.
In response to the win, he said, “It is a nice milestone to achieve and I have always said that coaching at TWU is the best place to coach for sure in Canada. In addition, with this group of players this year, winning it with them makes it extra special. I am pleased and grateful to our team for the way they made me feel on Saturday night. Even though it is a nice milestone, I am more excited for the players who kept us on our winning ways and delighted with the progress that they are making.”
This past weekend, the women squared off against the University of Regina on Friday and they did not disappoint with a commanding 9-0 win including another milestone for the team. Second year Daniela Gerig scored an amazing five times which broke the Trinity record set by Alexis Heinz in 2001. Also, the team total 9 goals tied the record which was set against Regina in 2005.
Finally, the Coach Roxburgh looked on as the women closed off the spectacular weekend with a 3-0 victory against the Canada West number one ranked University of Manitoba Bisons.
“Overall, the team has a fantastic opportunity to go on and win things this year. We are young and so that tell tale sign will be about maturity and experience and how much younger players rise to the challenge. This is the deepest squad that we have ever had, so the future looks very bright,” said Roxburgh.
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