The University of British Columbia Athletics

VANCOUVER – The No. 2 UBC Thunderbirds men's soccer team clinched first place in the Canada West's Pacific Division after a 0-0 draw against the No. 7 Trinity Western Spartans in Langley.
 
"It was a night where we needed to get a result and although it wasn't pretty we got it done," said UBC head coach Mike Mohser.  "I'm proud of our group tonight as they rallied and dealt with some adversity as we were missing our two starting centrebacks. Kent O'Connor (Langley, BC) did a solid job filling in there along with true freshman Tyler Mertens (Coquitlam, BC), who has been terrific all year. Will Hyde and Devin Gunenc also had strong games for us in the back."
 
With the draw, UBC set a new Canada West mark for most points recorded by a team in a season with 35.  The Thunderbirds are 11-0-2 on the season while the Spartans are 9-1-3.  This edition of the UBC team already holds the 14-game league record for most goals in a season with 43.
 
By taking first place, UBC will get a bye into the Canada West semifinals next weekend.
 
The Spartans needed back-to-back wins over the Thunderbirds this weekend to nab top spot and, with second place clinched last week, will now go to UBC Saturday for what amounts to a meaningless game in the standings.
 
"Its nice to lock up first place and we can relax a bit, rest some bodies tomorrow and start preparing for the Canada West semi final next Friday," said Mosher.
 
Trinity Western will play the third place team in the Prairie Division in the Canada West quarter-finals.
 
In a game that was dominated by UBC in the first half but much more level in the second half, both teams created a few quality chances but neither was able to find the back of net.
 
For UBC, it was the first time it had been shut out all season. 
 
UBC's Luke O'Shea (Richmond, BC) stopped four shots on net to share the shutout with Trinity Western's Evan Lowther, who made five saves.
 
The first half was a methodical one that had UBC in control and with possession for much of the half. Keeping the Thunderbirds in check was a Spartans team that played a staunch defensive game that forced UBC to patiently wait for openings. Unfortunately for the visitors, those openings rarely came.
 
The best chances for UBC came in the first 10 minutes, with Brandon Bonifacio (Vancouver, BC) getting two shots on goal but neither really challenged Spartans goalie Lowther.
 
The Spartans best opportunity of the half came in the 24th minute off a Jarvis Ambaka (Maragoli, Kenya) attempt from well out that forced O'Shea to dive from his left to right to keep the ball out.
 
The Thunderbirds had their best chance of the game in the 79th minute when Gagandeep Dosanjh (Abbotsford, BC) got his head to a cross in the box, but his attempt was stymied by Lowther, who was forced to make a diving mid-air save that was arguably the best stop Spartans fans have seen him make all season.
 
The Spartans came tantalizingly close to scoring what would have been the winner late in stoppage time. A cross from the right flank found Spencer Schmidt in the box and the TWU striker one-touched it past O'Shea but also just past the outside of the right post.
 
The two teams will finish off the regular season on Saturday.  They will meet on David Sidoo Field at Thunderbird Stadium, with kick off scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
- with files from Mark Janzen, Trinity Western Sports Information
 
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