CALGARY – Trinity Western defeated No. 5-ranked Mount Royal 4-3 in an overtime thriller on Saturday at the Flames Community Arena.
 
The Spartans (2-15-1) were boosted by an overtime winner from Landon Fuller (Williams Lake, B.C.), two goals from Mitchell Joss (Winnipeg), and one from Joshua Bruce (Surrey, B.C.).
 
In net, it was Isaac LaBelle's (Saskatoon) night, earning his first Canada West victory by stopping 58 of 61 shots. In addition, first-year forward Mikol Sartor (Winnipeg) was stellar, earning two assists to bring his point total to eight in only 10 games played.
 
AS IT HAPPENED
The first period saw the Cougars jump to a swift 2-0 lead, scoring at the 8:01 and 8:33 mark of the frame. Still, the Spartans wouldn't relent, as Bruce squeaked through MRU's defensive line to capitalize on a breakaway opportunity. The first period ended at 2-1 in favour of MRU.
 
Joss scored the only goal of the second period to tie the game (15:12).
 
Both TWU and MRU scored one goal each in the third period, keeping the game at a 3-3 line. Once again, it was Joss finding his seventh goal of the season (8:45).
 
Fuller scored the game winner at the 2:46 mark of the game's first overtime, earning TWU their second victory of the season.

QUOTABLE
Ben Walter – TWU Head Coach
"Obviously this is a big win for us, and it's a great way to go into the Christmas break on the winning end. It was one of those games we've been looking for – we battled all game, and kept believing. The team did a good job in staying positive on the bench, keeping our heads in the game the whole way through.
 
"Isaac LaBelle was great tonight. He stopped a ton of shots the whole way through, especially in the first period when [MRU] outshout us quite a bit. Mitchell Joss, Mikol Sartor, and Josh Bruce all had strong games, and Landon Fuller getting the overtime winner was special.
 
"Very proud of the group. I think they deserved this one. We've been working towards it, and it's a good way to go into the break."
 
NOTABLE

• This was Fuller's first Canada West goal through his 40 appearances as a Spartan.
• This is also TWU's first victory against a ranked opponent.
• TWU is now 1-5 all-time against the Cougars.

 
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 13 U SPORTS team championships and 32 Canada West team championships.
 
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