A pair of local players did all the scoring to lead their respective university teams to victories in the Canada West women’s soccer playoffs.
Jasmin Dhanda of Surrey scored both goals for the University of British Columbia (UBC) Thunderbirds in a 2-1 win over the Calgary Dinos in a quarterfinal contest Saturday at the UBC campus. She finished a cross from Janine Frazao in the 48th minute to give the T-Birds their first lead of the game, then was set up by Nicole Sydor for the winning goal in the 83rd minute.
Dhanda, a rookie and a graduate of Tamanawis Secondary, tied for the team scoring lead with five goals in nine regular season games.
The Thunderbirds will play in the Canada West final four playoff this weekend in Victoria, kicking off against the Alberta Golden Bears in a semifinal match tomorrow (Friday).
In Langley last weekend, the Trinity Western University Spartans qualified for the final four for the 10th consecutive season with a 2-0 win over the Saskatchewan Huskies. North Delta’s Vanessa Kovacs netted both goals for the Spartans.
In the 31st minute, Krista Gommeringer a free kick into the box which found a streaking Kovacs who snuck in all alone in the back door and volleyed the ball home from five yards out.
“I feel I can time her kicks well because she has a sweet spot that comes in back post,” Kovacs said.
Less than seven minutes later, the Spartans doubled the lead on a nearly identical play as Gommeringer curled a ball into the area which Kovacs found and slammed home.
“Obviously those two free kicks were excellent,” said Spartans head coach Graham Roxburgh. “Gommeringer’s service was incredible and Kovacs is someone who is going to get on the end of those types of crosses.”
Trinity Western will meet the Victoria Vikes in the other final four semifinal game Saturday, also in the provincial capital. Gold and bronze medal games will be played Saturday.
- with files from Gary Ahuja