Langley, BC –
Bhagvir Sidhu scored early for the UFV Cascades on Saturday, and after a late goal from the Trinity Western Spartans the teams each came away with a point.
The result keeps the Cascades (7-4-3) ahead of the Spartans (6-4-3) for third place in the Pacific Division with one week of regular season games to go.
How it happened:
UFV got on the board in the fifth minute, as
Kevin Mailand swung in a cross from the right side that was flicked on by
Mateo Brazinha before finding Sidhu alone in the six-yard box for the tap-in to make it 1-0.
TWU looked to tie it in the ninth minute, but a sensational leg save from UFV keeper
Jackson Cowx ensure the Cascades would lead at the half.
The Cascades pressed in the second half, but would see their chance to double the lead stopped by the left goalpost. Minutes later TWU's Xander Roxburgh saw his shot find the bottom right corner to level it at 1-1 in the 74th minute, and that is how it would finish.
Quotable:
UFV head coach Tom Lowndes
"The point is huge. I don't think I could have asked for anymore. They gave me everything they had physically, mentally, tactically, they bought in and I thought we frustrated them. I thought we were unlucky at 1-0, when we hit the post and we had another good chance after that as well."
"We had to withstand some pressure. It's a tough place to come play against a good team, but it's a big point and every time this year we have had a negative result we have bounced back so that's really pleasing character-wise to see we have that in us."
"[
Bhagvir Sidhu] has been one of our unsung heroes this year. He covers so much ground. We moved him from fullback to centre mid in preseason, and he did really well. It was good to see him pop into the box and score. I thought he worked so hard tonight, as all the guys did."
Notable:
Brazinha's assist now makes it eight assists and 15 points on the season as the Cascades striker continues to lead the conference.
Sidhu's goal is his second of the season, and his second Canada West goal.
Next Up:
The Cascades finish off the regular season next week at rotary stadium with matchups against UBC and Victoria. UFV faces UBC on Friday at 8pm, before finishing the week against Victoria on Sunday at 3pm.
To keep up with all the action follow the Cascades on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter at @ufvcascades.
