WINNIPEG - Trinity Western lost to Manitoba for the second time in as many nights, falling 3-0 Saturday afternoon at the Wayne Fleming Arena.

TWU goalie Kate Fawcett (Tottenham, Ont.) made 27 saves to keep the Spartans (2-14-0) close throughout the contest, but a 21-save shutout from Erin Fargey helped the Bisons (11-5-0) to the weekend sweep. 

Madison Cole, Kate Gregoire and Molly Kunnas each scored in the first period to stake the Bisons to a three-goal lead and from there, it was a scoreless final 40 minutes. 

AS IT HAPPENED 
During a delayed Spartans penalty midway through the first period, Kylie Lesuk fed Cole a pass in the slot, which she sniped to beat visiting Fawcett high on the glove side. The Bisons got two more goals from Gregoire and Kunnas in the frame to give Manitoba a 3-0 lead.

The Bisons outshot TWU 20-14 over the final two periods, but neither team was able to break through on the scoreboard. 

The best chance of the second period came after Bisons captain Lauren Warkentin blocked a shot in the slot. The puck bounced off her shin pad and into the neutral zone where it was picked up by a trailing Gregoire for a breakaway. Gregoire beat Fawcett but the post kept it out, as the game remained at 3-0 in favour of Manitoba.

The Spartans put the pressure on the Bisons in the third as they searched for their first goal of the weekend. However, Manitoba's Fargey stood tall making nine saves in the final period.

QUOTABLE
TWU Head Coach Jean Laforest
"It was a great effort today and frankly we had a great effort throughout the whole weekend. It was the best weekend of hockey that we've played all year. To that end, we know that the wins are going to come in the future and we definitely took a step forward this weekend. I've very proud of the team. We're not satisfied, but we are proud of the effort we had this weekend."

UP NEXT 
The Spartans are back on the road next weekend, as they travel to play Alberta Feb. 4-5.

About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 13 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross country and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes as an independent team in men's rugby. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 12 U SPORTS team championships and 29 Canada West team championships.

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