The Trinity Western Spartans women鈥檚 soccer team ended the 2011 spring season with a 3-0 loss to the NCAA Div. I University of Portland Pilots Sunday afternoon in Portland.

鈥淲e played an excellent team today who have the ability to defend and possess the ball,鈥� commented Trinity Western head coach Graham Roxburgh.

鈥淎t times I was quite pleased with how we played. And for a good stretch of the first half we were able to contain them. In the second half we played with more energy and controlled the ball more, but we really did not create many scoring opportunities.鈥�

The Spartans battle the Pilots 鈥� who were ranked No. 1 for last fall鈥檚 NCAA tournament 鈥� for much of the first half and trailed 1-0 after 45 minutes of play.

Trinity Western had more control of the play in the second half then they did in the first, but a defensive miscue and a solid individual effort gave the Pilots two more goals as they knocked off the Spartans 3-0.

鈥淧ortland is always going to be tough and we gave a good account of ourselves, but at times we showed a little naivety,鈥� added Roxburgh.

鈥淎 good learning experience for us and was a little disappointed in the outcome but in the end it was a fair result and maybe the score could have been a little more gracious to us.鈥�

The Spartans goaltending duties were shared by Kristen Funk and Veronika Rogina. Funk had to leave the game after being injured.