In a battle for top spot in the Canada West regular season, it was the Trinity Western Spartans earning first place after a hard-fought 1-0 victory on Saturday against the host Victoria Vikes.
“I’m proud of our players. Tessa Meyer probably had one of her best games as a Spartan and our back four were once again excellent as was our midfield and can’t say enough about (Kristen) Funk,” said Trinity Western women’s soccer head coach Graham Roxburgh.
“Credit to UVIC. After we started well and possessed nicely they started to come on and were threatening. In the second half they came out with energy and we had to weather the storm.
“It was a great game. Both teams had one or two chances and there weren’t a lot for either side and I’m pleased to come away with a win in a tough place in a very entertaining game of soccer,” added Roxburgh.
Funk came up with a penalty kick save in the 59th minute and Natalie Boyd converted her penalty kick chance in the 72nd minute for the game’s only goal.
It was the regular season finale and the Spartans finished in first place with a record of 11-1-0. Victoria was relegated to second place at 9-2-1.
It was Trinity Western’s fourth Canada West regular season title.
The Spartans also won the previous night, 2-1 over the Fraser Valley Cascades.
The game was played at TWU after the Cascades’ home field was unsuitable for play because of rain.
In the game, Spartans rookie Krista Gommeringer scored twice, in the 61st and 64th minutes.
Gommeringer finished the regular season with 13 goals and nine assists and her 22 points were one shy of tying former Spartan Carlee O’Brien’s single-season school record of 23 points. That was set in 2004.
The Cascades scored once in injury time, but that was all that would elude Funk, who made five saves for the win.
The Spartans host the eighth-place Manitoba Bisons (4-7-1) on Friday at Rogers Field at 5 p.m.
If they win, Trinity Western will host the Canada West final four championships the following weekend.
