VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds fell just short of defending their Canada West Championship, ending on the wrong side of a 6-5 shootout loss to the Trinity Western Spartans Friday night at Thunderbird Stadium.
With neither side able to find the breakthrough over the 90 minutes nor the 30 minutes of extra time, the match headed to a penalty shootout. Both teams had their shooting boots on, converting their first five attempts. Danielle Cooper hit home the Spartans' sixth, but
Janika Sangha saw her effort tipped onto the right post by Hannah Miller, sparking joyous celebrations from the travelling Trinity Western supporters as they secured a 6-5 shootout win.
It was a fast-paced end-to-end encounter from the start, with both sides giving their all and some robust tackles flying in.
Nisa Reehal came within inches of giving UBC an early lead five minutes in, but her shot whizzed by the back post.
UBC were having the better of the play but Trinity Western were looking dangerous in their attacks and their transition.
The Spartans almost took the lead in the most dramatic of fashions in the 23rd minute when Sierra Halldorson nearly bagged herself an Olimpico but her corner hit off the left post and out.
Reehal had another look on goal moments later before
Dakota Beckett had to react to a Laren Spiller effort that came off her knee from a Sophie Crowther cross, and Crowther herself came close from a 42nd minute free kick that caused confusion in the UBC box before being deflected just wide for a corner.
The action continued apace in the second half, ebbing and flowing back and forth.
TWU came out fast after the restart and Maddie Malnychuk fired into the side netting just nine seconds in.
Mansha Sidhu brought a sprawling save out of Beckett in the 68th minute before
Katalin Tolnai crashed a curler off the bar for UBC two minutes later.
The Thunderbirds kept the pressure on from the subsequent corner forcing a scramble in the Spartans six yard box before the danger was cleared.
Neither side could find the breakthrough in the closing stages and the game headed for 30 minutes of extra time.
Ella Sunde fired into the side netting in the 96th minute after another scramble in the Spartans box following a corner, before
Nisa Reehal had a couple of chances in the second period of extra time, first seeing a low effort tipped around the near post by Miller, then the UBC winger rounded the Trinity Western keeper but saw her shot cleared by Tilly James.
That was as close as either side got to grabbing a dramatic late winner and the match headed to a penalty shootout.
With both sides going perfect with their first five penalties, the shootout headed to sudden death. Cooper tucked away Trinity Western's sixth kick, but Sangha could only look on in anguish as her effort cannoned off the right post after a fingertip save by Miller and the Spartans claimed the Canada West crown.
Both teams now head off to nationals in Kingston, Ontario next week looking to land another U SPORTS title to their trophy cabinet. Trinity Western will head into those finals as the higher of the two Canada West seeds, which may actually give them the harder path in what is sure to be a tough tournament ahead for both teams.
