LANGLEY, British Columbia – The No. 4 Trinity Western women's soccer team bounced back from a disappointing Friday night draw with a convincing 3-0 win over Thompson Rivers Saturday at Rogers Field.

After nearly 45 minutes of scoreless soccer, Ali Oliverio (Calgary) cracked through in stoppage time to give the Spartans a much-needed marker going into the break. Out of halftime, the Spartans picked up right where they left off, with early goals from Isabella Di Trocchio (Burnaby, B.C.) and Jenaya Robertson (Delta, B.C.) to secure a valuable three points.

The Spartans, who were playing without injured midfielder Vanessa Kovacs (North Delta, B.C.) on Saturday, have now earned points in three straight outings and improved to 2-1-1 on the season. The WolfPack falls to 1-2-0 on the season.

"I thought we gave a lot of effort and were committed to the task," said Spartans first-year defender Quinn Hardstaff (Calgary). "We kept possession when we needed to and once we got the lead, we stayed composed and didn't allow them back in the game."

TWU held much of the possession throughout the first half and had several chances before Oliverio's marker. The second half was much of the same, with the Spartans dominating play and cruising to a well-earned win.

"I am pleased that we came away with three points," said Spartans coach Graham Roxburgh. "I thought we were a little bit sluggish in the first half. We generated some good half-chances and their keeper made two or three really good saves. Otherwise we're probably up by a few at halftime.  

"We got way better in the second half. I really liked our ball movement in the midfield. I am pleased that Izzy got on the scoresheet and pleased for Janaya to get on the scoresheet. To be honest, we put in a good shift, but at the same time we know we have lots of work to do."

Ally Williamson (Langley) made two saves to pick the victory while TRU's Taylor Shantz stopped 10 of the 13 shots she faced.

After an opportunity-filled opening half saw TWU held off the scoresheet nearly throughout, Oliverio sparked the offence late in the first half when she got a head to the end of a Krista Gommeringer (Calgary) cross and found the back of the net.

"Ali Oliverio had a clinical finish and I thought she put in a captain's performance tonight," Roxburgh said. "Her ability to find little pockets of space and create stuff was impressive and she stepped up tonight."

Early in the second half, Oliverio had a chance from the penalty mark in the 49th minute, but her shot was stopped by Shantz. The miss marked the first time the Calgarian midfielder has been stopped from the penalty spot in her Canada West career. She was previously a perfect five for five.

Shortly after Oliverio's penalty chance, the Spartans made good and doubled their lead. After taking a pass from Seina Kashima (Burnaby), Di Trocchio raced down the left wing alone, cut towards the middle and planted her shot to the far right corner, past Shantz in the 50th minute.

With TWU continuing to surge, Robertson tallied her first as a Spartan when she headed home a Kashima cross in the 64th minute.

The Spartans will play a pair of road games next weekend when they travel to play UNBC Sept. 25 and Alberta Sept. 27. The WolfPack will return home to host Victoria Sept. 26 and UBC Sept. 27.

Game Notes: The Spartans started a young lineup, including first-year players Rachel Hutchinson (Cloverdale, B.C.), Nicole Bolder (Calgary) and Brooklyn Tidder (White Rock, B.C.) all getting the start up front...TRU saw four yellow cards, with Shantz, Brianna Powrie, Nikki Manwaring and Danielle Fauteux all booked.

-TW-