LANGLEY, British Columbia – The Trinity Western Spartans were unable to stay with the Manitoba Bisons Friday night as they dropped a 4-1 decision to the visiting Bisons at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C. The loss drops the Spartans 9-10, while the win improves the Bisons to10-6-0-1.
 
Scoring for the Spartans was second-year forward Charlotte Swanton (Victoria, B.C.) with her fourth of the season. Scoring for the Bisons were Louise Fergusson, Aimee Patrick, Camryn Gillis, and Julia Bird
 
Fourth-year goalie Kate Fawcett (Tottenham, Ont.) made 25 saves in the TWU loss, while Emily Shippam made 23 saves in the Bisons win.
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans will look to earn a split with the Bisons when they match up again tomorrow night at the George Preston Recreation Centre. Game time is set for 7:15 p.m. and can be seen live on Canada West TV.
 
QUOTABLE
Trinity Western Head Coach Peter Hay
"We prepared really well which usually results in a good game but right from the puck drop we didn't play our game that made us successful. It was messy with lots of mistakes and tough decision making. We lacked confidence and our mental game was weak. The good news is we haven't seen this all year and so I can only expect this group to look themselves in the mirror and be ready for a big game to get the split for the weekend."
 
AS IT HAPPENED
The Bisons' Fergusson opened the scoring at 2:20, but TWU's Swanton quickly responded to tie the game 36 seconds later as the teams ended the first 20 minutes tied at 1-1 with both having eight shots on net.
 
Manitoba kept TWU off the scoresheet for the remainder of the game, with Patrick getting the game-winner at 8:45 of the second period, despite TWU outshooting Manitoba 10-8 in the period.
 
The Bisons were the better of the two teams in the final period outshooting the Spartans 13-6 and getting the final two goals late in the period. Gillis got the insurance goal at 17:59, with Bird getting the empty net goal at 18:22 to make the final 4-1 for the Bisons.
 
NOTABLE 

• The Bisons outshot the Spartans 29-24.
• Both teams finished 0-2 on the power play.
• In their final games of the fall semester TWU went 0-2 against the UBC Thunderbirds, losing 3-1 and 3-0. While Manitoba finished the semester 1-1 against the Regina Cougars winning 2-0 and losing 4-1.
• TWU is currently 3-8 lifetime against Manitoba. The Spartans' last win against the Bisons was 3-0 on November 4, 2023, in Langley, B.C. The Spartans lost their last two games against the Bisons last season in Winnipeg, Man.
• The top three teams in each division qualify for the Canada West playoffs.

 
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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