Trinity Western’s Caitlin Haines came close to playing the hero for a second time at the Canada West women’s soccer final in Victoria this weekend.
Haines, a fifth-year education major from New Westminster, scored the game-winning goal for the two-time defending Canada West conference champion Spartans in a 2-1 overtime victory over the University of Victoria in semifinal play on Friday.
But a day later, that game-winning magic just wasn’t there for the Spartan senior.
Tied 1-1 after regulation time, Julia Ignacio gave the University of Alberta a 2-1 lead five minutes into extra time.
Alberta goalie Kelti Biggs did the rest, palming a shot off a free kick over the bar in the first half of overtime and later, with just three minutes left in OT, robbing Haines in a wild attempt by the Spartans to equalize.
“We’re obviously bitterly disappointed that we couldn’t three-peat, but I’m really proud of the girls and how hard they fought tonight,” said Trinity Western head coach Graham Roxburgh in a school press release. “It was a good battle out there and, just like last night, one good team had to lose a tough game.”
The win was Alberta’s first Canada West title since 2001.
In the bronze-medal match, UVic, including Amy Lawrence, defeated the University of British Columbia, including Alisha Penev and Kym Van Duynhoven of Burnaby, 3-1 on penalty kicks.
