VANCOUVER - An 80th minute goal by Kirsten Santema proved the winner for the visiting Trinity Western Spartans as they defeated the UBC Thunderbirds 1-0 at Thunderbird Park. The win moves the Spartans into second spot in the Canada West, one point ahead of the Thunderbirds.
Trinity Western (7-3-2) exacted some revenge on Saturday night following the T-Birds' 1-0 win at Langley last weekend that temporarily moved UBC into second spot in the conference.
A corner kick by Trinity Western's Natalie Boyd led to Santema's goal as she put a dangerous ball into the box that was initially headed away high by Thunderbird defender
Alisha Penev. Santema won the ball in the air and headed it on target. UBC keeper
Meghan Best was unable to fight through melee in front as the ball snuck inside the near post.
"It's frustrating," said UBC head coach Mark Rogers. "We didn't deserve to lose that game and that puts us in a tough spot as we finish our season on the road."
UBC did receive some good news in the loss as forward
Janine Frazao returned to the line-up for the first time since October 8th. Frazao proved a catalyst for the Thunderbirds sparking the offence in the second half. She also had UBC's best scoring chance that ended in an all to familiar fashion for the T-Birds.
In the 56th minute
Jessica Briker delivered a free kick to Frazao who was planted 15-yards from the Spartans goal. The second-year striker did well to get a head on the ball but her effort rang frustratingly off the crossbar.
The loss by UBC means Alberta clinches first place in the Canada West and the right to hold the Canada West Final Four in two weeks time.
Both Trinity Western and UBC face Alberta and Saskatchewan to close out the regular season next weekend. Whoever returns from that trip with more points will in all likelihood finish second in conference play.
UBC first travels to Saskatoon to face the Huskies on October 30th before facing the undefeated Alberta Golden Bears in Edmonton on October 31st to close our the regular season. Kickoff for both games is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. PT. TWU follows the opposite schedule playing Alberta on Saturday and Saskatchewan on Sunday.
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