EDMONTON – Alberta's Hayleigh Craig had a one-goal, four-assist night and the No. 6-ranked Pandas went four for eight on the powerplay to sink the Trinity Western Spartans 5-1 Saturday afternoon at Clare Drake Arena.

Craig was joined on the scoresheet with a phenomenal performance by Peyton Laumbach who finished with a goal and two assists.

Ashlee Wolfe (Holbein, Sask.) netted TWU's only goal in the contest, with Alberta netminder Halle Oswald stopping 17 of the 18 shots she faced. 

Spartans goalie Mabel Maltais (Edmonton) made 25 saves for the Spartans. 

The win marks seven straight victories for the Pandas (15-5-2), who are currently second in the Canada West. The sixth-placed Trinity Western Spartans are now 9-10-3.

AS IT HAPPENED
The Pandas were dominant from the opening puck drop, controlling possession and high-danger opportunities to start the game. The hosts got on the scoreboard just five minutes into the contest, with Kallie Clouston taking advantage of a Pandas 5-on-3 powerplay and potting her sixth of the year. The powerplay was working in the first for Alberta, adding another tally off the stick of Peyton Laumbach to make it 2-0. TWU netminder Maltais had a good period, turning 12 of 14 shots aside including a breakaway chance for Cassidy Maplethorpe midway through the frame.

The period would finish up 2-0 for Alberta, who outshot the Spartans 14-6 in the frame. Hayleigh Craig was the primary assister on both Pandas goals.

Craig put home a cross-crease pass from Laumbach to give the Pandas a 3-0 lead just three minutes into the second period. Two minutes later, on another 5-on-3 powerplay, Abby Soyko wristed home a goal past Maltais to make it a 4-0 game. Another powerplay opportunity came knocking towards the end of the period, and the Pandas top-ranked powerplay converted yet another one. This time, Natalie Kieser banged home a battle in front for her seventh of the year for a 5-0 Alberta lead that would hold into the intermission.

The Pandas outshot the Spartans 9-4 in the second.

The Spartans got on the board early in the third thanks to a phenomenal individual effort from Wolfe. She was denied by Oswald on her initial attempt but batted a loose puck out of mid-air for her first goal of the season. The rest of the way, however, was quiet as the Pandas cruised to a 5-1 victory.

NOTABLE 
•    The five goals against marks just the second time all season that TWU has allowed more than four goals in a game.
•    After playing four straight games to start the 2023 calendar year, the Spartans will play five of their final six regular season games at home, with the lone road game at UBC.
•    TWU swept the Pandas on home ice earlier this year, winning 3-1 and 4-1.

UP NEXT
The Spartans return home to host MacEwan Jan. 20-21. Friday's contest is at the George Preston Arena, with Saturday's game is at the Langley Events Centre.  

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, as well as women's and men's disc golf. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 13 U SPORTS team championships and 32 Canada West team championships.

-TW-