VANCOUVER, B.C. - UBC Thunderbirds continued their unbeaten start to the Canada West men's soccer season but had to settle for a 1-1 draw against the visiting Trinity Western Spartans at Ken Woods Field on Friday evening.
After a goalless, but high intensity first half,
Oliver Herbert opened the scoring for UBC in the 68th minute from close range, finishing a rebound after his first effort was saved by Trinity Western goalkeeper Alexander Cordeiro.
With the Thunderbirds looking to make it three straight wins to start the season, the Spartans had other ideas, leveling the match in the 77th minute through a fantastic Malcolm Kengee strike and earning their first point of the new season.
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"We're disappointed to not to get the three points after going one up," UBC head coach
Mike Mosher said after the match. "We're disappointed to have given the goal away to make the draw, and relatively quickly after we scored.Â
"The response afterwards was decent. We had two really good chances and we have to do better with those. That's the little bit of difference right now. We're creating enough, but we're not taking them at timely moments."
The action was played at a breakneck speed from the start with Thomas Powell firing a long range effort just wide for TWU just two minutes in. UBC responded with a
Henri Godbout effort that was high and over three minutes later.
With the game fast flowing from end to end,
Marcus Puhalj came the closest yet to opening the scoring when he met an Herbert free kick, but his header crashed off the crossbar. UBC kept the pressure on with TWU goalkeeper Alexander Cordeiro forced to punch the ball away.
Jordan Low had a long range rocket for the Spartans that didn't miss by much as the half hour approached, with Godbout replying with one for the Thunderbirds.
Neither team could find the breakthrough and they headed into the break level and scoreless.
The fast pace continued into the second half and Christian Rossi came within inches of connecting on a cross just past the hour mark.
The breakthrough finally came in the 68th minute. Godbout played a nice give and go on the left before sending a dangerous ball into the box to Herbert. The midfielder saw his first effort saved by Cordeiro but he buried the rebound for his first college goal and send UBC into the lead.
Trinity Western responded well and tied things up nine minutes later when Kengee met a superb Joey Seo cross to fire home the equalizer.
The Thunderbirds had a couple of great chances to retake the lead and win it with first Godbout and then
Tomas Pena blasting chances over from great positions and in the end both teams had to settle for a share of the spoils
UBC are back in action on Saturday night with an enticing top of the division clash with the visiting Fraser Valley Cascades at Thunderbird Stadium. Kick off is 7pm.Â
"It always it, it always is," Mosher said of Saturday's battle coming up with UFV. "They're always tough to play against. We say it all the time. Every opponent is a challenge, especially early in the season when it's all to play for.
"I don't expect an easy game. They've had a good start and after two weekends have put themselves in a good position to move forward and get to the playoffs. That would be a big goal for them. We're disappointed to get the one point today, but hopefully we can bounce back tomorrow and get all three. Then we push on from there."
Trinity Western will now take the ferry over to Vancouver Island to face the UVic Vikes at Centennial Stadium, with a 5.30pm kick off.
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