Box Score WINNIPEG (U SPORTS) – The fourth and final match of the day would see the hometown Manitoba Bisons take on the Trinity Western Spartans in front of a capacity crowd at the Subway Soccer Complex in Winnipeg. After a very even opening half, the Spartans would open the floodgates; scoring four unanswered goals in the second to give them the 4-0 win over Manitoba on Thursday, November 9.
" Manitoba defended us well, they make it tricky for us but I am really happy with how we responded in the second half." Said Spartan head coach Graham Roxburgh.
The Bisons entered the game as the underdog, and gave the Spartans everything they could handle.
"We had a really good first half by keeping the tempo high and getting a few good scoring chances but once they got one they seemed to just keep going and going" said Bison head coach Vanessa Martinez, commenting on the Spartans strong second half.
The Spartans and Bisons went back and forth in the opening half. Each team had multiple scoring chances but neither good break the 0-0 tie before the opening 45 minutes was up. Manitoba goalkeeper, Justina Jarmoszko, stood tall for her Bisons squad coming up with a couple big saves. Christina Oliveria, keeper for Trinity Western also had a strong half, stopping all three shots that came her way. The Spartans had the best scoring opportunity in the first half but Bison defender, Katherine Meo, broke up the play, otherwise the TWU attacker would have had a clear breakaway.
The second half began with a sharp angle shot off the foot of Bison player, Florin Wagner, which nearly fooled Spartan keeper Oliveria. TWU would open the scoring in the 56th minute when Rachel Hutchinson sprinted down the right side of the field and put the ball over the head of Jarmoszko to give her team the 1-0 lead. Manitoba had a chance to answer back when Sara Schur made her own run down the field but could not get a shot off before Spartan defender, Elizabeth Hicks, caught up and stopped her. Kathleen Chin added to the Spartan lead, beating the Bison keeper for the second time in the half. Trinity Western continued their second half dominance with two more goals coming from Danielle Thune and Hutchinson with her second of the match. The Spartans finished with the 4-0 victory, moving on the plan the Montreal Carabins in the semi finals on Saturday.
TWU moves to championship semifinals on Sat., Nov. 11 while Manitoba will play in consolation semifinals on Fri., Nov. 10
Player of the Match: Rachel Hutchinson (Trinity Western) and Hailey Lavarias (Manitoba)
