University of the Fraser Valley Athletics

Abbotsford, BC – A 4-1 victory for the UFV Cascades men's soccer team over the Trinity Western Spartans on Friday afternoon puts them one step closer to clinching second place in the Canada West pacific division standings, while the Spartans are eliminated from post season contention.

The result sees UFV set a new program high with 28 points and an 8-3-4 record, as they are now unbeaten in 10 straight matches. Meanwhile, TWU drops to 5-7-3 on the season. 

How it Happened:
Ebi Igali opened the score for the Cascades in the 18th minute from the penalty spot, as he calmly tucked it into the bottom left corner. 

UFV doubled their lead in the 24th, as Kevin Mailand received a ball from Michael Beecroft and proceeded to dice past multiple Spartan defenders before firing his shot into the right side of the goal. 

TWU's Xander Roxburgh would pull one back against the run of play early in the second half, firing a strong shot past UFV goalkeeper Matheus De Souza, but the Spartan comeback bid would be short lived as Nathan Canvin would receive a red card in the 58th minute for a tackle from behind. 

Cascades striker Mateo Brazinha would be the beneficiary of the man advantage, as he fired home a rebound forced by Dante Colebourne in the 67th minute, before getting his head on a Spencer Mellet corner kick in the 87th minute to seal the game with his seventh goal of the season. 

Notable:
The Cascades have scored four goals in each meeting this season against TWU, winning 4-0 and 4-1.

Brazinha's seven goals ties him for second In Canada West, and gives him 49 points in his Cascades career. 

Mailand's game winning goal gives him seven in his career, tying him with Brazinha and leaving him just one short of the program record held by Gurmaan Jhaj. 

The Cascades head into Sunday's final regular season game where earning a point will clinch them second place in the Pacific Division. 

Quotable:
UFV striker Mateo Brazinha

"Nothing is done. We want second. We will be happy in the change room, but when we leave the field today, it's out of our brains. We'll celebrate the result, but when tomorrow hits we're back to business."

"[Sunday] is going to be tough. When you have given five years to a program, it's tough to say goodbye. But we can't play the occasion, we have to play the game. The occasion will be what it is, but as soon as we hit the pitch, it's a game for second place that we have to win."

Up Next:
The Cascades are home again at Rotary Stadium on Sunday, as they close out their regular season with a match against the Victoria Vikes. Sunday will also be the team's annual senior night where they will celebrate a number of graduating athletes.  

Keep up to date
Cascades regular season home games offer free admission for UFV students with their student card. You can keep up with all the action at gocascades.ca, or by following the UFV Cascades on social media at @ufvcascades. All Cascades regular season soccer, volleyball, and basketball games are also available to watch live and on demand at canadawest.tv.

About UFV
Located in the beautiful Fraser Valley just east of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) is a fully accredited, public university that enrolls approximately 15,000 students per year. UFV has campuses and locations in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission, and Hope, and a growing presence in Chandigarh, India.