LANGLEY, British Columbia – Two nationally ranked CIS teams played a physical, hotly contested match at Chase Office Field Saturday night as the No. 9 UBC Thunderbirds (6-1-5) and No. 5 Trinity Western Spartans (8-2-2) battled to a 1-1 draw.
 
UBC opened the scoring in the 22nd minute when Titouan Chopin converted a penalty kick.
 
The Spartans Vaggeli Boucas (Langley) headed home the tying goal in the 54th minute.
 
In a classically physical Canada West match, the Spartans outshot UBC 18-14 and had seven shots on target to the T-Birds three, but UBC goalie Jason Roberts made six saves to preserve the tie. Spartans goalie Andrew Hicks (Surrey, B.C.) stopped two of the three shots he faced.


 
The tie keeps the Spartans three points clear of UBC for first place in the Pacific Division.
 
With plenty on the line and an already feisty rivalry on the table, the game had a physical element from the outset.
 
After a see-saw start, the T-Birds broke through when they earned a penalty after a UBC player was taken down in the box. Chopin buried his chance past Hicks.
 
The Spartans responded well, but it took until the second half before TWU equalized. Elijah Adekugbe (Calgary) sent a corner into the box and Boucas, who had moved up from his centre back position, got his head to the ball and directed it past Roberts.


 
The final 35 minutes saw TWU put pressure on UBC from all angles, but couldn't go ahead.
 
In the latter stages, UBC pushed back and even put a ball into the box that grazed the crossbar.
 
UBC will play Victoria in a home-and-home series Thursday and Saturday. TWU will now prepare for a home-and-home series with Fraser Valley.