VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds battled back from an early two goal deficit to earn a 2-2 draw and share a point with the Trinity Western University Spartans on a rainy Friday night at Thunderbird Stadium.
An early opportunity for UBC came through
Bradley Richardson five minutes in, but his effort in tight was parried by TWU goalkeeper Sebastian Colyn.
Despite the early chance for the T-Birds, it was the visitors that opened the scoring, as 16 minutes in a teasing ball from the right flank found Spartans rookie Christian Rossi who headed the ball into the top corner for an early 1-0 lead. After some back and forth play, the Spartans doubled their advantage twenty minutes later through Rossi who struck a perfect ball from the left edge of the T-Birds 18-yard box that curled past 'Birds keeper
Bennett McKay and into the top corner.
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The home side would respond four minutes later as
Tristan Nkoghe finished off a nice buildup in depositing a volley into the TWU net off a cross from
Christopher Lee. Then, on the stroke of halftime Nkoghe once again was the recipient of a beautiful pass from
Mitch Piraux. Piraux whipped a ball in from the left wing right to the feet of Nkoghe who slid it through the legs of Colyn from 14 yards out to tie the game at 2-2.
"After digging ourselves a hole early on to go down 2-0, I absolutely loved the response from our group late on in the half," remarked UBC Men's Soccer Head Coach
Mike Mosher post game. "I thought we went at them reasonably well in the second half, but like time and time again this season, we were unable to connect that final pass and strike to find the net to win it."
UBC came out the stronger side to start the second half, as a Chris Lee free kick found 'Birds veteran
Mackenzie Cole, but his header was pushed aside by Colyn protecting the TWU goal.
The Spartans lone solid chance of the second frame came off the foot of rookie forward Charles Thchouya Nana, but his firm deflected effort towards goal was caught and held by UBC goalkeeper McKay despite some Spartans being around the Thunderbirds net.
The 'Birds kept the bulk of possession in the second half, and made a couple attacking minded substitutions, but the game finished deadlocked at 2-2.
"We just need to keep working away and hope something comes our way going into tomorrow," added Mosher. "And part of it did go our way when we came back at the end of the first half."
With playoff positioning on the line, the Thunderbirds and Spartans will meet again for their second of back-to-backs Saturday night at Thunderbird Stadium with the same  7:30 kickoff.
Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance, or you can tune in on
Canada West TV presented by Co-Op.
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