Spartans earn place in semifinals with 2-0 win over Cape Breton

VANCOUVER – Jenaya Robertson scored early and goalkeeper Ally Williamson earned a clean sheet with three saves as the Trinity Western Spartans beat the Cape Breton Capers 2-0 on Thursday in CIS women’s soccer quarter-final action.

Robertson put the Spartans ahead 1-0 in the sixth minute after stretching out and deflecting a cross from Rachel Hutchinson past Capers goalkeeper Lysianne Trottier.

Isabella di Trocchio doubled the lead in the 67th after placing a long shot just under the bar and out of the reach of Trottier.

“I thought that early goal settled us down — it was a fantastic goal by Jenaya,” said Trinity Western head coach Graham Roxburgh. “I thought that they defended us well, and made it tricky for us to find some of the open spaces. I thought that they compacted very well. We knew were going to have to be patient in order to score the second goal — it was an unbelievable goal.”

The Spartans will square off in semifinal play against the reigning champion Laval Rouge et Or, who beat the Wilfred Laurier Golden Hawks 1-0 in its quarter-final matchup.

Also, the Sherbrooke Vert et Or upset the Queen’s Gaels 2-1 in penalty kicks while the UBC Thunderbirds toppled the Calgary Dinos 1-0.

Sherbrooke will now play UBC in the other women’s semi.

On the men’s side, the UQAM Citadins downed the McMaster Marauders 2-1 in penalty kicks to advance to the semis.

UQAM will face the UNB Varsity Reds, who beat the Victoria Vikes 3-2 in the quarters.

The other men’s semi will have the York Lions against the Thunderbirds. York defeated Cape Breton 4-1 while UBC blanked the Toronto Varsity Blues 3-0.

Semifinal play begins on Saturday.