Spartans advance with shutout

LANGLEY, B.C. (CIS) – Jason Wiens scored the game-winner in the first half and Nathan Pogue added an insurance marker in the second period as the tournament host Trinity Western Spartans blanked the Cape Breton Capers 2-0 in the fourth quarter-final of the CIS men’s soccer championship, Thursday night.

It marked the first loss since September 12 for the AUS champion Capers, who were undefeated in 14 games (11-0-3) coming into the national championship. Meanwhile, the Canada West fourth-place finisher Spartans hadn’t tasted victory since October 24 after opening the season 6-0-3.

“Every team that has come out slow in this tournament has lost and we were determined not to let that happen,” said first-year head coach Par Rohla, whose squad will face Quebec finalist McGill in Friday’s late semifinal at 6:30 p.m. Pacific. “We were determined to get out quickly especially on our own field. Most teams don’t feel comfortable on it, but the longer you let them hang around the more comfortable they get and the more difficult it becomes for you.”

The Spartans, CIS finalists two of the past three years and still looking for their first Sam Davidson memorial trophy, came out flying and before the visitors from Sydney, N.S., knew what hit them Pogue was in on a breakaway in the fifth minute. Fortunately for the Capers, keeper Chris Toumidis of Stoney Creek, Ont., was up to the task as he stoned the Canada West leading goal scorer from Seaside, Oregon.

The local favourites kept attacking and were rewarded in the 33rd minute when Wiens, a defender from Coaldale, Alta., converted a pass from Jordan Whitehead of Surrey, B.C., for an early 1-0 lead.

TWU got the insurance goal early in the second half when Pogue took a pass from Ionnis Tsoulouhas of Bellingham, Wash., took a touch and slotted the ball from the centre of the Cape Breton penalty area.

Andrew Fink of Burnaby, B.C., made two saves to earn the shutout win, while Toumidis stopped seven shots in the loss.

Cape Breton will face McMaster Friday at 1 p.m. in consolation action.

SCORING SUMMARY

TWU: 1-1:2
CBU: 0-0:0

First Half
1. TWU, Jason Wiens (1) (Jordan Whitehead), 33rd

Second Half
2. TWU, Nathan Pogue (1) (Ioannis Tsoulouhas), 52nd

Goalkeepers:
TWU: Andrew Fink (W, 0 GA, 2 saves, 90:00 mins)
CBU: Chris Toumidis (L, 2 GA, 7saves, 90:00 mins)

Shots: TWU 15, CBU 10
Shots on Net: TWU 9, CBU 2
Corners: TWU 6, CBU 3
Offsides: TWU 3, CBU 1
Fouls: TWU 11, CBU 15
Yellow Cards: TWU (Nathan Square-Briggs 77th), CBU (Shayne Hollis 27th, Silvano Rajkovic 82nd)
Red Cards: none

Players of the game:
TWU: Paul Hamilton
CBU: Chris Toumidis

CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE & RESULTS (all times PACIFIC TIME)

Thursday, Nov. 12
Quarter-final 1: Laval 3, UPEI 1
Quarter-final 2: Toronto 2, Victoria 1
Quarter-final 3: McGill 1, McMaster 0 (10-9 PK)
Quarter-final 4: Trinity Western 2, Cape Breton 0

Friday, Nov. 13
10:30 Consolation 1: UPEI vs. Victoria
13:00 Consolation 2: McMaster vs. Cape Breton
16:00 Semifinal 1: Laval vs. Toronto (SSN Canada webcast)
18:30 Semifinal 2: McGill vs. Trinity Western (SSN Canada webcast)

Saturday, Nov. 14
13:00 Consolation final (5th-place match)

Sunday, Nov. 15
13:00 Bronze medal (SSN Canada webcast)
15:30 Championship final (SSN Canada webcast)

- CIS -

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