The UNBC Timberwolves battled the Trinity Western Spartans, the number-two ranked women’s soccer team in Canada, to a 1-1 draw on Saturday in Langley.
In the ninth minute, the dangerous Spartans got on the board. A loose ball came out to Mackenna Dieterich, who turned and fired, beating a diving Brooke Molby with a low shot. The first of Dietrich’s season made it 1-0 early on.
The Timberwolves responded ten minutes later, after Kiana Swift intercepted a ball with the Spartans looking to play out of their third. She fed Kjera Hayman who sent a through ball to a streaking Paige Payne at the top of the box. The pride of Kitimat did the rest, beating TWU keeper Hannah Miller for her seventh of the season, knotting the game at 1-1.
The Spartans seized control of play after the Payne equalizer, playing in the TWolves’ half and testing the UNBC backline. However, Brooke Molby and the Timberwolves did well to stave off a go-ahead marker, heading into the half tied at 1-1.
In the second half, TWU continued to assert themselves, as the TWolves sunk back into a defensive formation. Holland Stiel, Sierra Halldorson, and Sophie Crowther all had looks, but Molby was there to keep her side in it.
In the 57th minute, it was the TWolves who nearly found the go-ahead goal as Hayman found some space at the top of the box but saw her attempt roll just wide of the left post behind a sprawling Miller.
In the 84th minute, with Trinity continuing to pressure, a bouncing ball went over Molby’s head as she looked to clear it and looked destined to cross the line until Mara McCleary sped over and played it out of harm’s way.
The clock was not TWU’s ally as the seconds ticked away and the Timberwolves did well to defend, blocking shots and hutting out an impressive effort in their own third. Eventually, the referee blew the whistle and UNBC had earned an incredibly hard-fought draw against the #2 team in U SPORTS.
With the draw, the TWolves improve to 3-5-2, while the Spartans move to 7-1-2 on the season.
