Sunday afternoon at Masich Place Stadium in Prince George, the UNBC Timberwolves dropped a 6-0 decision to the Trinity Western Spartans. Charles Tchouya Nana notched a first-half hat-trick for the visitor while Xander Roxburgh and Kosta Adzic each added two points. For UNBC it marked the final home game for graduating forward Connor Lewis who was recognized post-game for his incredible efforts both on and off the pitch for UNBC.
Lewis’ 50th career Canada West appearance and final home game for the UNBC Timberwolves took place on a gorgeous, crisp fall day in his hometown of Prince George.
Fresh off a 4-3 victory a day prior, Trinity Western showed noticeable urgency in the opening minutes, but Steve Simonson’s club was more than up to the task defensively. The communication from the goalkeeper on out was solid, and through nine minutes of play the shots were 0-0.
One minute later, Trevor Scott bent a promising cross into the box that Alexander Cordeiro stopped for the first shot and save of the match.
Xander Roxburgh, the stoppage time hero from yesterday set up Christian Rossi on a swift give-and-go play a moment later at the other end, but Rossi’s shot sailed high and over the TWolves goal.
Isaac Tate, who thrilled fans on Saturday with his skill and urgency, nearly set up the opening goal of the match on Sunday with a spectacular pass into the box. Charlie Stewart dove at the ball, got his head on it, but Cordeiro got his body in front of it, keeping the score at 0-0.
Twenty minutes through, shots on target were even at 2-2 and both teams had to feel positive about their speed, tactics and energy.
But from then on in the first half, it was the Charles Tchouya Nana show.
Tchouya Nana nabbed his fourth point of the weekend when he wired a shot past Pierce from inside the penalty area. Tchouya Nana’s fourth goal of the season was was set up by Kosta Adzic.
Moments later, Connor Lewis had his first good look of the match when he used his patented header off a free kick from Hagon Kim. Lewis’ header attempt at the right-wing post snuck just wide of the target, keeping the score at 1-0 for TWU.
Tchouya Nana’s second of the half came in the 34th minute after a high cross pass from Francis Powell. Tchouya Nana did well to stay onside, place his back to the TWolves defender before spinning and firing his second of the match home.
Three minutes later, Tchouya Nana completed his first-half hat-trick with a wonderful, bending strike off a free-kick from the left-wing that snuck past the UNBC wall and in.
Shots on target at half were 5-3 favouring Trinity Western.
At half, UNBC swapped goalkeepers putting Yanni Ntapas into the goal for his third appearance of the season. His arrival was met with a quick strike from Roxburgh in the 48th minute, extending the TWU lead to 4-0. David Saarvedra drew the helper.
Jordan Low pushed the Spartan lead further to 5-0 in the 54th minute when he converted off a Saarvedra rebound. For Low it marked his fifth goal of the season, and Saarvedra’s second assist of the half.
The final goal of the match came in the 74th minute when Zachary Stead scored his first of the season off a setup from Roxburgh.
Plenty of further substitutions took place in the second half for UNBC as Cole Gunhold, Anton Zadonsky, Colin Stauffer, Matteo Cuzzetto, Demian Dron and Matt Botelho all took to the field.
For Prince George’s Demian Dron, a big moment, as he took to the pitch for the first time since suffering a season-ending injury during the 2023 season.
In the 84th minute of the match, the TWolves had their best of the chance of the day and it came off the right foot of Colin Stauffer who drilled a ball on target from outside the 18, but it went clang off the bar and stayed out.
The game ended with a 6-0 victory for TWU. The victory improved their season record to 4-4-1 while the TWolves now sit at 1-9-2. Up next for UNBC – A trip South to Vancouver for a double-header with UBC on Friday and Saturday.