VANCOUVER - An intense 90 minutes of soccer decided nothing between two of the nation's best teams on Saturday, as the Trinity Western Spartans fell behind in the first half but managed a late equalizer to earn a 1-1 tie with the UBC Thunderbirds at Thunderbird Park, preserving their slight advantage in the standings over the 'Birds.
Neither side managed many quality scoring chances in the first half, but the T-Birds did take a lead into halftime thanks to a great strike by
Rachel Ramsden in stoppage time.
Kelly Cook swung a long ball into the box off a free kick which found its way through a crowd and onto Ramsden's boot in space at the corner of the 18 yard box. She made no mistake in crushing it past Spartans keeper Kristen Funk to open the scoring.
The scoring opportunities opened up in the second half with the Spartans pressing hard for an equalizer, and although both sides managed to dodge several close calls, the visitors did get their goal in the 80th minute.
After a UBC run was closed down, Melissa Mobilio started the counter attack with a long pass up the park to Nikki Wright. She played a high bouncing ball in behind the UBC defence, and Jessica King won the race to it, nudging it over a charging
Alyssa Williamson to even the score.
"They're a heck of a team loaded with good talent. At some stage in the game you're going to have to weather some pressure, and you just hope it's not in the last few minutes when you're hanging on with your fingertips," said UBC head coach Mark Rogers.
"Defensively we fought and scrapped as usual. We could have shown a little more quality going forward, and we'll continue to work on that," Rogers added. "Our determination, urgency and willingness to compete was first rate. All you can ask out of an athlete is to give their best, and I thought they did."
UBC's best chance of the second half was a three-on-two run headed by
Natalie Hirayama that made it as far as the Spartans' 18 yard box, but the 'Birds were unable to get a clean shot off before they were closed down by the defence.
Just before their tying goal, the Spartans were robbed by a spectacular Williamson save. Alicia Tesan found herself in space 20 yards out and let fly with a powerful shot aimed straight at the top corner, but a leaping Williamson managed to get just enough of a touch on the ball to send it over the bar and keep her side on top.
The T-Birds (7-1-2) remain two points behind the Spartans (8-1-1) for first in Canada West. A difficult test lies ahead for both squads, as they will both host the Alberta Pandas and Saskatchewan Huskies - the conference's third and fourth place teams - next weekend.
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