LANGLEY, British Columbia– For the second time in two games the Trinity Western Spartans have beaten a U SPORTS Top 10 ranked team. Led by first-year goalie Leon Sommer (Linz, Austria), who turned away 41 shots, the Spartans defeated the No. 8 Alberta Golden Bears 4-3 Friday night at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C.
 
The win, which was TWU's first-ever over Alberta, improves the Spartans to 4-22-1, while the loss drops the Bears to 17-8-2. TWU is now on a two-game winning streak after beating No. 9 Saskatchewan 2-1 SO on Tuesday morning.
 
Alberta's Ethan Kruger made 15 saves for the Golden Bears in the loss.
 
Third-year forward Luke Spadafora (Calgary, Alta.), third-year forward Michael Spafford (Saskatoon, Sask.), third-year forward Josh Borynec (Parkland County, Alta.), and second-year centre Jonathan Krahn (Chilliwack, B.C.) were the goal scorers for the Spartans. Justin Hall, Mason Ward, and Adam Hall tallied for the Golden Bears.
 
AS IT HAPPENED
The Spartans and Bears were evenly matched in the opening period with Spadafora scoring his third of the year to put TWU up 1-0 at 13:55 with a power play goal, and Alberta's Justin Hall tying the game at 18:20 with a power play marker of his own. Alberta outshooting TWU 12-5
 
The second period was one of the best of the year for the Spartans. Both teams had 11 shots, but TWU outscored Alberta 3-0 to take a 4-1 lead after 40 minutes. The Spartans came out fast with Spafford scoring his first goal of the season at 2:13 and Borynec adding his third of the year at 5:10. Krahn ended the period on a high note with his first of the season at 19:54.
 
Going into the final period trailing by three goals, the Golden Bears threw everything at the Spartans. But Sommer was up to the task as he turned away 19 shots, while Kruger only faced one shot in the final 20 minutes. Alberta's Ward made it a two-goal lead with his sixth of the season at 3:25, then Adam Hall got his 12 of the season to make it a one-goal game and force the exciting finish. Alberta pulled Kruger with 1:25 remaining, but even with the extra attacker the Bears were unable to get the equalizer as the Spartans held on for the historic win.
 
QUOTABLE
TWU Head Coach Ben Walter
"I loved our first two periods. I loved how we just played with confidence. We have been trying to find confidence all year, we built some on Tuesday and our goal was to maintain it. And I thought that our guys did. We were upbeat and making plays and playing the right way. And I just loved our togetherness in the third period when they pushed at us. We knew that they were going to push at us and the guys stuck together and stayed positive and we came out with another big two points."
 
On Sommer's play
"Leon has hit another level for us. We knew that he was capable of it, and maybe we are playing a little bit better in front of him, but he is a special goalie. He is going to be special for us for a long time here."
 
On sacrificing and blocking shots down the stretch
"I think our confidence has a lot to do with how we are now playing. I think it bodes well for the future that we are in a position where we are out of the playoffs, but we still have guys sacrificing their bodies and playing for the better of the team. It's really great to see as a coach and I'm happy for the guys."
 
NOTABLE

• The Golden Bears outshot the Spartans 44-19.
• Both teams finished the night 1-3 on the power play.
• The Spartans are now 1-8 lifetime against the Golden Bears.
• Today was TWU's sixth game in nine days. This past Monday and Tuesday TWU split with No. 9 Saskatchewan losing 4-1 on Monday afternoon, and winning 2-1 in a Shootout on Tuesday morning.
• Last week the Bears split with UBC losing 4-2 on Friday and winning 3-2 in OT on Saturday in Edmonton, Alta.
• In their last series with Alberta on January 5 and 6, the Spartans lost to the Bears 7-2, and 5-1 on the road in Edmonton, Alta.
• With one game remaining in Canada West conference play Alberta is in fifth place, four points behind Saskatchewan, While TWU is in ninth place two points behind Manitoba.

 
UP NEXT
The Spartans will finish the Canada West season against the Golden Bears tomorrow night at 7:15 p.m. at the George Preston Recreation Centre. The game can be seen live on Canadawest.TV.

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.
 
-TW-