After a dramatic penalty kicks victory over the Calgary Dinos, the Trinity Western Spartans men’s soccer team lost their final two games to place fourth at the Canada West championships in Edmonton.
The Spartans defeated Calgary 3-2, winning the penalty kicks 9-8, on Friday.
But the team lost 3-1 in extra time to the top-seed and host Alberta Golden Bears on Saturday.
In the bronze medal match on Sunday, the Spartans lost 2-1 to the Saskatchewan Huskies.
Coach Pat Rohla said by the end his team — playing its third game in three days, including two which went 120 minutes — was simply out of bodies.
“We ran out of bodies,” he said.
“I’ve never been around a team that was so beat up and continued to try as hard as they did.”
Against the Huskies, Taylor Johnson had the Spartans goal early in the second half, while Carlos del Aguila came close to netting the equalizer in the 57th minute, only to have his shot glance off the crossbar.
Saskatchewan had goals from Scott Myrah (38th minute) and Brett Levis (43rd minute).
Andrew Hicks made four saves in the loss for Trinity Western.
Against the Golden Bears, Alberta’s Marcus Johnstone and Cameron Schmidt scored in extra time after the teams were tied at one through 90 minutes.
Scott Gilroy opened the scoring in the 68th minute for Alberta.
But the Spartans tied it in the 80th minute as Brayden Volkenant buried the rebound off a Spencer Schmidt free kick.
In the quarter-final match, it took a dozen rounds of penalty kicks before goalkeeper Evan Lowther dove to his right and got a piece of the shot from Calgary’s John Troncosco.
It came after Brayden Gant had scored to give Trinity Western the advantage.
During regulation, Jarvis Ambaka scored in the seventh minute to give the Spartans an early lead.
Troncosco would tie it for Calgary in the 32nd minute but two minutes later, Kalem Scott would restore the lead.
The advantage stood until the 80th minute when Calgary’s Izak Lawrence converted his penalty kick opportunity.
