By David Kent. The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades defeated the Western Washington University Vikings (NCAA-Division2) 1-0, at Townsend Park in Chilliwack last Thursday. The 2013 Canada West regular season opens Friday against TWU Spartans, at Townsend Park.
The Cascades came out strong tonight and gave the WWU Vikings all they could handle for 90 minutes. UFV playing in their fourth match in four days showed they are fit for the regular season and played like they were in mid-season form, especially in the middle of the first half when the Vikings tested veteran goalkeeper Mark Village, Abbotsford, BC several times. Village did a great job of keeping the match scoreless until UFV was able to capitalize on the game’s first major foul at the 33rd minute of play. After the referee awarded UFV a direct shot outside the box for a late hit, veteran defender Ryan Liddiard, Kamloops, BC made no mistake as he buried his shot in the upper right hand corner of WWU’s net beating goalkeeper Nico Terentjev, Mercer Island, WA cleanly.
The Cascades continued to pressure WWU in the second half trying to get that all important second goal, however the Vikings defense had other ideas. WWU forwards pressured the Cascade defense late in the match looking for the equalizer but UFV led by fourth year defender Ravi Singh, Abbotsford, BC held off the late charge to clinch the shutout win over their Bellingham opponents.
Village was named the Cascades “Player of the Match” for earning the shutout and recording 7 saves.
“We played a tremendous match considering how tired we were from the four day trip to Oregon and Washington,” commented UFV head coach Alan Errington. “The Vikings are a good side and gave our team a good test as we get ready for next week’s conference opener against TWU.”