LANGLEY, British Columbia– Special teams were the difference as the UBC Thunderbirds scored two powerplay goals and an empty net goal to defeat the Trinity Western Spartans 3-0 in Canada West women's hockey action Friday night at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C. The loss drops the Spartans to 9-8, while the win moves the No. 2 Thunderbirds to 14-2-1-0.
 
Scoring for the Thunderbirds were Jaylyn Morris, Kasundra Betinol, and Grace Elliott.
 
Trinity Western's fourth-year goalie Mabel Maltais (Edmonton, Alta.) made 30 saves in the Spartans' loss, while Elise Hugens made 18 saves in the shutout win for the Thunderbirds.
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans will finish the first semester tomorrow at 3 p.m. (PT) at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre. Both games can be seen live on Canada West TV.
 
QUOTABLE
Trinity Western Head Coach Peter Hay
"Our first period, we executed a game plan really well and got a couple of chances to score a goal and get up on them 1-0 or 2-0, definitely one by McDonald. And Mabel played well in the net and kept us in the game. We knew that we couldn't take penalties and the minute we did, obviously they took advantage of that and scored two power-play goals to go up 2-0, and then they got a goal with our goalie pulled."
 
"But, if we can get back to the first period, and play the right way, and execute our game plan against them, keep them five on five, we put ourselves in a chance to win a game. So tomorrow, obviously, a new goalie with Faucet, hopefully, she can steal a game and we can stay out of the penalty box and find a way to win against a very good UBC team."
 
AS IT HAPPENED
The opening period was fast-paced and back-and-forth 20 minutes, with UBC having a slight edge in play with a powerplay opportunity. The Spartans fourth-year forward Kyra McDonald (Inuvik, NT.) had a great chance, just missing the top right corner 5:20 into the game. UBC's Grace Elliott almost got the Thunderbirds on the board when her shot from the left circle went off the TWU crossbar at 11:30 of the opening period, just at TWU's penalty was expiring. The Spartans' best opportunity came in the final minute when fourth-year centre Reilley Kellner (Langley, B.C.) got a partial break away and went five hole from between the circles, but could not get past UBC's Hugens as the opening period ended tied at 0-0. The Thunderbirds finished the period with a 10-9 edge in shots on goal.
 
TWU's third-year forward Kara Yackel (St. Paul, Man.) was close to breaking the tie at 1:30 when she got in alone from the left wing but couldn't pick up her rebound off her close-in shot. UBC's Ashton Thorpe just missed for the Thunderbirds when her shot snuck past the left post at 3:30. The Thunderbirds opened the scoring on the power play when Morris found the top left corner of the Spartans' net to give UBC the 1-0 lead at 10:07. It would be the lone goal of the period with UBC outshooting TWU 12-5 in the period.
 
The Thunderbirds started the final period on the power play and were rewarded when Betinol deflected MacKenzie Kordics shot from the point to find the top corner of the Spartans' net at 1:44 of the period to give UBC a 2-0 lead. The Thunderbirds Grace Elliott sealed the win with an empty net goal at 16:34 to make the final 3-0 for UBC. The Thunderbirds finished the period outshooting the Spartans 11-4.
 
NOTABLE 

• The Thunderbirds outshot the Spartans 33-18.
• TWU went 0-1 on the power play, while UBC finished 2-5.
• Last weekend the Spartans swept the Calgary Dinos 3-1 both nights at home at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C.
• Last weekend the Thunderbirds swept the Manitoba Bisons 3-1, and 10-2 at Wayne Fleming Arena in Winnipeg, Man.
• TWU is currently 2-19 lifetime against UBC. The Spartans' last win against the Thunderbirds was 2-0 last season at UBC on September 15, 2023.
• Early this season the Spartans lost 4-1, and 1-0 in their two games in October.

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 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 U 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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