Box Score ALDERGROVE, B.C. – Trinity Western scored five goals but it wasn't enough as the Spartans lost 8-5 against MacEwan Friday at the Aldergrove Community Centre. 

The Spartans battled back from multiple deficits to keep the game close, tying the contest after an early 2-0 deficit and getting within a goal after trailing 5-2, but the Griffins held TWU off late, scoring a pair of empty-net goals to seal the win. 

With TWU on the comeback trail, having fallen behind 5-2 in the third period and making it 5-4 after goals from Zack Whittaker and Christian Lowe, a five-minute major for charging was assessed to the Spartans Michael Spafford, which slowed the home side's momentum and gave the Griffins a chance run the clock down on the power play. After MacEwan went ahead 6-4 just after the power play, the Griffins found the empty net twice, sandwiched around a goal from TWU's Jonathan Krahn. 

TWU's Luke Spadafora scored his fifth and sixth goals of the season to tie the game late in the first period 2-2. Spafford added two assists on the night for TWU. 

MacEwan had eight different goal scorers, with Sam Simard, Loeden Schaufler, Logan Dowhaniuk, Vincent Scott, Liam Ryan, Brendan Boyle, Ethan Mercer and Caden Cabana all getting on the scoresheet. Marc Pasemko had a three-assist evening. 

TWU's Leon Sommer stopped 28 of the 34 shots he faced. Carson Ironside made 13 saves for the visitors. 

QUOTABLE
Ben Walter, TWU Head Coach
"I feel that we got away from the things we wanted to do pretty early. We didn't have a great start and at times we were trying to do too much. Our game is about speed and a great forecheck and working together as a five-man unit. I thought we got away from that and they really capitalized on their opportunities. I know we can tighten up tomorrow. I expect us to come out a lot better in the first period but, if there's anything we can take away, it's that we kept going and didn't quit."

NOTABLE 
•    Lowe added to his team-leading point total as he now has six goals and six assists in 11 games.
•    TWU is currently 2-7 lifetime against the Griffins. Last season TWU lost 5-3, and 4-3 to MacEwan at home at the Langley Events Centre.

NEXT UP
TWU and MacEwan will play the rematch Saturday at 7:15 p.m. at the Aldergrove Community 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 and women's and men's disc golf. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 14 U SPORTS team championships and 34 Canada West team championships.

About Trinity Western University
Recognized for quality, TWU has received seven consecutive A+ rankings for Quality of Teaching and Learning, holds three Canada Research Chairs, and wins national championships in CIS sports. More importantly, lives are changed at TWU through its whole-person, Christ-centred approach to education. With a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree-completion programs, TWU equips leaders of character and competence to make a positive impact in the lives of others.  

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