VANCOUVER – Saturday night's matchup between the No. 4 UBC Thunderbirds women's soccer team (11-1-2) and the visiting Trinity Western Spartans (10-1-3), ranked sixth in Canada, ended it a scoreless draw, giving the 'Birds the Canada West West Division title by two points over the Spartans.

Both clubs battled hard for a crucial win, but stingy defence on both sides of the pitch prevented either squad from finding a goal.

UBC head coach Marisa Kovacs said the team's top priority was securing first place, but acknowledges there are still major challenges ahead.

"First place was one of our goals this season…but there's still a long ways to go," said Kovacs. "Nationals is the big goal."

UBC will host the 2016 CIS Women's Soccer Championship Nov. 12-15 at Thunderbird Stadium.

The tournament will be the culmination of the university careers of the four Thunderbirds who were honoured before Saturday's contest: goalkeeper Olivia de Goede (Victoria, B.C.), midfielder Taylor Shannik (Delta, B.C.), midfielder Kym van Duynhoven (Burnaby, B.C.) and defender Krista Whittaker (Nanaimo, B.C.).

Defence was the name of the game for the entire contest. UBC only managed one shot on net, while TWU generated two. 

The first 20 minutes of the match hovered around midfield, with neither team providing much room for the other to break through.

TWU goalkeeper Ally Williamson came up big in the 15th minute, stopping a shot from Shayla Chorney (Vancouver) that seemed destined for the bottom right corner of the net.

The Spartans managed two shots on goal in the 13th and 19th minute, both smothered by UBC's de Goede, who finished Canada West play as the league leader in shutouts with seven.

Momentum shifted in favour of the Thunderbirds midway through the first half. They had three corner kicks and managed three shots between the 25th and 29th minutes, but failed to land one on goal.

Stellar anticipation and blocking from the Spartans' defence also disrupted a majority of UBC's shot and pass attempts within the TWU zone.

TWU brought pressure in added time in the first, culminating with Jenaya Robertson's blast sailing just over the crossbar.

The Spartans spent the first 10 minutes of the second half predominately in UBC's end. Despite three corner kicks in less than a minute, they weren't able to produce any meaningful chances.

Neither team got many opportunities inside the opposing penalty areas.

A header off a soaring leap from UBC's Amrit Berar (Richmond, B.C.) from in the box sailed just to the right of the net. That attempt, occurring in the 70th minute, was the team's best of the half.

The Thunderbirds will open the postseason at home next weekend, as they will host a Canada West Regional Playoffs game on Friday, Oct. 30 at Thunderbird Stadium at 5:30 p.m.