Mark Janzen, Trinity Western University

LANGLEY, B.C. – Trinity Western's Jenaya Robertson (Delta, B.C.) scored the game-winning goal in the 82nd minute to send the No. 3-ranked Spartans to their first win of the season, knocking off Victoria 2-1 at Chase Office Field.

Getting to the ball on a scramble in the box, the third-year striker knocked it home for her first goal of the season, helping the Spartans (1-1-0) bounce back after falling to No. 4 UBC on Friday.

TWU's Rachel Hutchinson (Cloverdale, B.C.) opened the scoring in the 48th minute before Kiara Kilbey equalized for the Vikes (1-1-1) in the 57th minute.

Both goalkeepers were busy throughout the contest, with TWU's Christina Oliverio (Calgary) making three saves to earn the win, while Victoria's Puck Louwes stopped five of the seven shots she faced.

After a scoreless opening half in which neither team generated much in the way of offensive chances, Hutchinson broke the deadlock less than three minutes into the second half. Taking a brilliant cross-field pass from Seina Kashima (Burnaby, B.C.), Hutchinson whipped a low shot to the left corner that evaded a diving Louwes.

Less than 10 minutes later, Kilbey tied it up when she pounced on a rebound from just a few yards out and tapped it into an open net.

With a tie seemingly on the horizon, TWU's Robertson checked back into the contest and became the difference-maker. The Spartans Danae Derksen (Delta, B.C.) sent a ball into the box with Robertson eventually corralling it and slamming the winner home from just a few feet out.

After Victoria had a 10-2 edge in shots in the first half, the Spartans turned the tides in the second half, outshooting the Vikes 11-4.

QUOATABLE
TWU Head Coach Graham Roxburgh
"I'm a bit relieved to get three points, given the nature of the game. I thought Victoria was very good in the first half and caused us all sorts of problems. But I thought we worked our way through it and in the second half, I was really pleased with our group's response. We challenged them to keep possession of the ball and move it a little more quickly. In the end, we scored a really nice goal. Seina's ball was superb and Rachel had a great finish. Obviously a little mistake let them back in the game, but we showed character to stay in the fight and I'm really pleased Jenaya was able to get on the end of that one."

Second-Year Defender Elizabeth Hicks
"We had a lot of adversity yesterday and I think the nerves crept in a bit, but the past is in the past and what really counts is how we responded tonight and I think we responded well. We all wanted to play for each other and do the best for each other and no matter what, we were going to give it our all and show what being a Spartan is all about."

NOTABLE
• Just like the last time they lost a regular season game (Sept. 11, 2015), the Spartans bounced back with a victory over Victoria. In 2015, TWU beat the Vikes 3-1 following a 2-0 loss against UBC.
• The Vikes had an 8-4 edge in corner kicks, which included a 7-2 disparity in the first half.

UP NEXT: TWU is back on the pitch next weekend when they travel to play Calgary Saturday and Lethbridge Sunday. Victoria returns home to play Manitoba Friday and Winnipeg Saturday.

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