QUEBEC CITY – A Jessica Vance goal in stoppage time broke a 1-1 tie and led the Trinity Western Spartans to a last-minute victory over the Calgary Dinos in the opening consolation semifinal of the 2022 U SPORTS Women's Soccer Championship presented by Groupe Océan, Friday morning at the TELUS-Université Laval Stadium in Quebec City.
Jayden Berg opened the scoring for the Dinos in the fourth minute and
Caley Leask once again came up big with seven more saves for the Scarlet & Gold, but the Spartans were able to tie things up midway through the second half before finding a way late to advance.
Flipping the script of yesterday's national championship opener, it was Calgary who jumped out to the early lead after an aggressive play by Berg.
Rachel Barlow played a long ball for Berg from midfield down the right wing, where the TWU defence was trying to shield the Dinos midfielder and allow her keeper to grab hold of it. Instead, Berg got around the defender and got a foot to the ball before the keeper could grab it, perfectly splitting the two Spartan defenders left scrambling to make it 1-0 just 3:33 into the game.
The Spartans thought they had leveled the game in the 22nd minute off a wicked free kick by Sierra Halldorson, only to see
Caley Leask make yet another incredible save at the national tournament. The Dinos keeper dove to her right and made a one-handed save, just keeping the ball off the line before shoving it out of danger.
Just before half, it was the Dinos who looked like they were about to add to the scoreline, only to see TWU goalie Hannah Miller up to the task.
Brooklyn Colvin's free kick from midfield found its way behind the Spartan defence where
Shyanne Hedges got a jump and rifled a shot close range, but the onrushing Miller was able to get her body in front of the ball to keep things at 1-0 at the break.
Early in the second, Canada West All-Rookie honouree
Erica Mysko had a pair of strong chances for Calgary, only to see her first shot go just wide and on the second - after making a great move around the oncoming keep well outside the box - just couldn't quite get her shot past the stingy Spartan backline that did well to recover and pickup their keeper on the play.
Trinity Western was able to tie the game in the 59th minute. Tilly James made a strong run down the right side and sent a low, rolling cross through the box where Holland Stiel was waiting and blasted the ball top shelf to level things up.
Calgary looked to answer with a pair of chances around the 73rd minute, but Berg's blast from just outside the box and
Sofia DiGiacomo's header both were hauled in by Miller.
With the game seeming destined for penalty kicks, the Spartans were able to create something out of nothing late. Earning a free kick near midfield, Halldorson launched a drive that skipped off the turf right in front of the Dinos goal. Leask was able to punch it high on the initial save, only to see Jessica Vance crashing in and get a head to it for the winner.
Both teams were credited with 14 shots in Friday's contest, with Leask and Miller both finishing with seven saves apiece.
This concludes another strong season for the Dinos, making their third trip to nationals in the last four seasons. Calgary closes its season with an overall cumulative record of 11-6-2.
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