Last weekend the Cascades faced off against the University of Northern British Columbia and the University of Calgary, in which they were unable to come up with a win. This weekend the Cascades played a pair of games against Trinity Western University (TWU).
Heading into the weekend the Cascades sat at a record of 2-3-5, while the Trinity Western Spartans were in second place in the division with an 8-1-1 record. Before this weekend, the Cascades and the Spartans had yet to play against each other in the current season.
The first half of Friday’s game saw the Cascades struggle to take advantage of any opportunity they had. The Spartans were able to take the lead early. Within the first 10 minutes of play Spartans players Rachel Hutchinson and Jenaya Robertson were able to score. As the first half continued, the Cascades were unable to answer with a goal of their own, and the Spartans remained on the attack. Before the half was over, the Spartans were able to add another pair of goals to the scoreboard. This time, the goals came from Spartans Brooklyn Tidder and Gabi Short.
When the second half started, the Cascades’ Brittney Zacharuk was able to find the Spartans’ net. However, this goal was the only one the Cascades would make. Although the second half saw the Cascades playing a more sound defence, the dying minutes of play saw them let in one more goal, scored again by Robertson. Shortly after Robertson’s goal, the game ended with a score of 5-1 for the Spartans.
Sunday’s game saw the Cascades play their first home game since Sept. 28 against the University of Victoria Vikes. Coming off Friday’s loss, the Cascades needed to be prepared for a battle. When Sunday’s game started, the Cascades were hungry for a goal. In the first half of play the Cascades took a total of 11 shots, opposed to the Spartans’ nine. However, it was the Spartans that opened the scoring. With just under 30 minutes of play, Spartans player Hutchinson once again scored the first goal of the game against the Cascades. Although the Cascades were unable to stop Hutchinson from scoring, her goal was the only one the Spartans could score that half.
The second half of the game saw the Cascades unable to find the same opportunities as the first half. The Cascades found themselves flat-footed, only being able to take just over a third of the shots they took in the first. Throughout the second half, Spartans players Robertson and Kathryn Harvey were able to increase the Spartans’ lead. Unable to answer with a goal of their own, the Cascades lost 0-3.
Next weekend the Cascades will be playing their last two games of the regular season, and both will be at the Matsqui Rec Centre in Abbotsford. On Friday, Oct. 18 the Cascades will host Thompson River University at 5:30 p.m., followed by a game on Saturday, Oct. 19 against the University of British Columbia Okanagan at 7 p.m.
