The Trinity Western Spartans and UNBC Timberwolves each had their chances. They each held momentum for stretches of play. But, after 90 minutes of hard-fought Canada West action, both sides had to settle for a single point, after a 0-0 draw on Friday, September 1, 2023 in Langley, BC.
It was the Spartans commanding much of the possession through the opening 15 minutes, hemming UNBC into their own end and testing TWolves keeper Daniel Zadravec, who was steady for the visiting Timberwolves.
UNBC would look to counter the other direction, but it was tough sledding through the midfield for a Steve Simonson side starting six first-year players. They'd stick with it, however, as the field began to tip in their favour.
Freshman Isaac Tate was particularly strong for the Timberwolves, earning a pair of threatening free kicks in Spartans territory, and a Gregor Smith corner caused plenty of chaos around the TWU net, but keeper Yeshua Silwamba did well to deny any looks.
At the half, UNBC had done well to seize control of momentum, but the game remained scoreless through 45 minutes.
Tate nearly got UNBC on the board early in the second, sent in on a break by fellow freshman Wyatt Lyon, but his chip went just north of the crossbar, keeping the score even. Simonson went to the bench and brought in two more first-years, hoping Ibrahim Ezletni and Theo Tate could be the catalyst to a second half push.
Trinity pushed back, earning a dangerous free kick and a pair of corner kicks, but Zadravec and the young UNBC backline defended well, sending Tate in the other direction for a tremendous chance on the counter attack.
In the 72nd minute, Mario Banovic felt enough contact to go down in the box and was rewarded by the official, earning Trinity a penalty kick in the 72nd minute.
At the spot, Thomas Powell stepped up and put the ball of the left post behind Zadravec and out, before a foul was called on Trinity, keeping it a scoreless game to the relief of the Timberwolves faithful.
Zadravec was excellent in the dying minutes, making a number of strong saves, including a tremendous stop on an in-close Joey Seo who found himself unmarked in the box.
Eventually the official blew the final whistle, ending a hard-fought stalemate in a scoreless draw.
Isaac Tate was named UNBC's Earls Road Warrior of the Game.
The two teams will clash again on Saturday, at 7:15 PM in Langley.
