CALGARY - The Trinity Western Spartans women's hockey team lost 3-2 to the Mount Royal University Cougars Friday night at Flames Community Arena.

The teams came into the game with identical 1-1 records and the play was just as even throughout. All five goals were scored in the second period, though the Spartans never led.

TWU's Chelsea Debusschere (Lloydminster, AB) and Amy Potomak (Aldergrove, BC) each scored their first goal of the season in the loss.

Ava Metzger, Amy Tatum and Courney Kollman scored for the Cougars.

Mabel Maltais (Edmonton) made 30 saves for Trinity Western while Mount Royals goalie Kaitlyn Ross (Redcliffe, AB) made 17 stops to pick up the win.
The game ended 3-2, dropping the Spartans to 1-2 on the young season, while the Cougars improved to 2-1.

AS IT HAPPENED
The first period was a tight twenty minutes. The Spartans were able to get past the Cougars defence a couple of times but were shut down by Ross, first with the glove and then with a spectacular toe save against a breakaway.

The second period offered much more offence.
 
The Cougars scored two quick goals to take the lead before TWU got one back. A flurry of shots on a 5-on-3 powerplay led to Debusschere burying the loose puck.
 
Soon after, Spartans winger Potomak ripped a shot home to tie things up.
 
But that tie lasted just 17 seconds before the Cougars took the lead back, and this time they held it.
 
TWU appeared to score the tying goal in the third period, but officials waved it off due to a high stick.

QUOTABLE
TWU Head Coach Jean Laforest
"It was a very, very good outing tonight against Mount Royal. Obviously Mount Royal is a top team in the Canada West conference. We were not dominated in any way, shape or form. I think that was a pretty even game. So in terms of looking at where we're, it was a good evaluation for our club. Last year that was a team that totally dominated us. This could have been a toe or it could have been a win for us. I don't like morale victories but I'm very, very, very pleased with how we played and the effort and execution of our girls. I'm looking forward to playing them again tomorrow."

NOTABLE
•    This was the first time the Spartans have scored multiple goals in a game against Mount Royal. TWU scored a total of two goals over the teams' four previous meetings last year.
•    Tonight's loss was the closest margin of defeat against the Cougars, as each of TWU's previous four losses against Mount Royal came by three or more goals (4-1 on Sep. 24, 2021, 3-0 on Sep. 25, 2021, 8-1 on Oct. 22, 2021, and 5-0 on Oct. 23, 2021).

UP NEXT
These two teams are now set for a rematch in Calgary on Saturday, October 8th. Puck drop is at 2 p.m. (PT).
-TW-