VANCOUVER - The UBC-Trinity Western rivalry was its most entertaining on Friday night, as the Thunderbirds managed to make their early goal hold up as the game-winner in an intense and physical affair against the Spartans at Thunderbird Park.
Tyson Keam swung a beautiful ball in towards the far post from over 30 yards out on a free kick in the 13th minute, allowing
Sean Haley to rise above the crowd and head it home to light up the scoreboard.
"The service on the free kick was terrific," said UBC head coach
Mike Mosher. "Tyson's service was excellent all day and it starts with that. We got that one goal and could have had a few more."
A few more goals certainly would have made life easier for the 'Birds, but despite having the balance of scoring opportunities in their favour for most of the match, that was the only ball to find the back of the net for either side on Friday.
Although they didn't extend the lead, the 'Birds continued to apply the pressure all night with excellent ball control and passing all the way up the park.
"Our mentality the majority of the time is to go at teams and pressure them especially at home," said Mosher. "We're looking to smother them and we weren't looking to sit back up one goal in the second half. We were looking to give ourselves more of a cushion."
Physicality was the name of the game, as both sides received three cards, including a red to UBC's
Kent O'Connor late in the match. Mosher was also ejected from the game after disputing the card to O'Connor.
Trinity Western's Jordan Whitehead went down with an injury early in the game as a result of one of the many collisions between the two Canada West-leading squads.
The Spartans started to put together some chances on attack late in the second half as they pressed for an equalizer. Their best opportunity came on a free kick to end the match, but a well-delivered ball into the box was redirected just wide.
The win gives UBC a four-point cushion on top of the Canada West standings at 5-0-3 on the year. Trinity's loss drops them to 4-2-2, tied for second with Victoria.
Next up for both sides is a road swing against Fraser Valley and Victoria. The next home action for both UBC and Trinity Western is October 21 and 22 against Alberta and Saskatchewan.
