Abbotsford, BC – The UFV Cascades dropped a 3-0 decision to the USPORTS No. 5 ranked Trinity Western University Spartans on Sunday at Rotary Stadium in Abbotsford, BC. 

The Cascades were without the services of three key players for Sunday's game, as Alanna Sydenham and Madison Telmer were forced to sit out due to yellow card accumulation, and midfielder Jasdeep Dhaliwal was also unavailable. 

The result sets up a dramatic situation in the fight for the final playoff spot in the Canada West pacific division. The Spartans improve to 8-1-3 this season and secure a playoff spot, while the Cascades currently sit in the fifth and final playoff position with 18 points and a 5-4-3 record. 

With two matches remaining, UFV sits two points back of the University of Victoria in fourth, while the Mount Royal University Cougars and the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack are in hot pursuit of UFV with 15 points and 14 points respectively. 

How it happened:
TWU's Erin Stewart opened the scoring in the 17^th minute when they got on the end of a cross from Charity field in the six-yard box and slotted the ball into the goal on the first touch.

Stewart found her second of the match in the 39^th minute. A drop pass from Bryana Buttar found the foot of Stewart, who made a quick move before chipping it into the goal to make it 2-0. 

Buttar sealed the game in the second half, as her long-range shot found its way past Addison Chen in the Cascades goal in the 52^nd minute.

Quotable:
UFV head coach Ari Adams 
"We were missing some key starters today, and I think that played a massive role in the score line today. I think with Alanna, Jas, and Maddy back next week, we have to show up and get some points."

"We had a very young starting lineup today and it did show. We have a lot of growth, but it looks promising for the future of this program."

"It's a super tight race for the fourth and fifth spots, so it's a big game against Victoria next week, and then again against MRU in the last game. If we can get some points from those last two games, we'll just be looking forward from there."

Up Next:
The Cascades finish off their regular season slate next week on October 13 and 15. UFV will take on the University of Victoria Vikes on Friday at 7 p.m., and the MRU Cougars on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both games can be streamed live and on demand on Canada West TV.