TWU Spartans shutout UBC Thunderbirds 1-0 in CIS varsity men's soccer

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TWU Spartans shutout UBC Thunderbirds 1-0 in CIS men's soccer

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TWU Spartans' Justin Cordick strikes game-winning goal in 1-0 win vs. UBC Thunderbirds

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Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (2007/9/16) — The number one ranked Trinity Western University (TWU) Spartans shutout the University of British Columbia (UBC) Thunderbirds 1-0 at Thunderbird Stadium taking an early commanding lead of the Canada West conference in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) varsity men's soccer.

TWU fifth-year senior midfielder Justin Cordick scored the lone goal in the 22nd minute putting away a rebound in the box past UBC fourth-year keeper Nikolai Matni.

The scoring play developed off a throw-in from midfield as Spartans' fourth-year defender Patrick Kelly flicked a one-touch pass to third-year forward Nathan Pogue in the clear for a 10-yard shot.

Pogue missed the net to the far-side with a low right-footed strike, but Thunderbirds' midfielder Paul Bahia could not clear the ball out of the box with a backheel leaving Cordick to bury the ball into the UBC goal.

Trinity Western held off UBC scoring chances late in the second half including a point-blank volley by rookie defender Tyson Keam set up from third-year midfielder Martin Ferreira Pinho's long cross.

TWU rookie keeper Andrew Fink ranged to his right along the goal line and leaped with his hands up to stop Keam's short-hop volley preserving the clean sheet.

The Spartans have a four-game winning streak to start the 2007 season in Canada West conference play giving them a two-game lead on the University of Victoria Vikes (2W-2L) and University of Alberta Golden Bears (2W-1L).

The Thunderbirds (1W-1D-2L) have struggled to play consistently scoring five goals in their one victory and no goals in their two defeats.

UBC will travel to Edmonton, Alberta (Sep. 22) and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (Sep. 23) on its first road-trip of the season taking on the University of Alberta Golden Bears and University of Saskatchewan Huskies respectively.

Trinity Western also begins a two-game weekend in Alberta against the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns (Sep. 22), then traveling north along Highway-2 to play the University of Calgary Dinos (Sep. 23).