VANCOUVER, British Columbia – In a rematch of Friday night's game, the Trinity Western Spartans fell 3-2 to the UBC Thunderbirds Saturday afternoon at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre in Vancouver, B.C. The loss drops the Spartans to 2-2, while the win improves the Thunderbirds to 4-0.
 
Scoring for the Spartans were fourth-year blueliner Presleigh Giesbrecht (Gretna, Man.) and fourth-year forward Kara Yackel (West St. Paul, Man.) Scoring for the Vikes were Jaylyn Morris with two goals and Vanessa Schaefer.
 
Fifth-year goal Kate Fawcett (Tottenham, Ont.) made 35 saves in the Spartans' loss, while Elise Hugens made 18 saves in the Thunderbirds' win.
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans will now head on the road for two games against the Saskatchewan Huskies in Saskatoon, Sask.  The games at Merlis Belscher Place are set for 7 p.m. (MT) and 5 p.m. (MT) and can be seen live on Canadawest TV.
 
QUOTABLE
Peter Hay, TWU Head Coach
"This was a special teams game. It felt like we barely had any five-on-five. I thought both our power play and penalty kill were very good. More importantly, I liked the physicality and battle we had today. We are a good team, and it's all coming together nicely. It's going to be a great season. We just went through four tough games, and we know we can compete with anyone in Canada. We will keep getting better next week before going to Saskatchewan on a well-needed road trip."
AS IT HAPPENED
Jaylyn Morris opened the scoring early in the first period with her second goal of the season to put UBC ahead in the conclusion of a home-and-home weekend tilt between the crosstown rivals.
 
But the Spartans were up for the challenge. Fourth-year blueliner Presleigh Giesbrecht responded in kind with a wrister of her own to help TWU convert on a five-on-three power play in the closing moments of the first period.
 
The second frame proved to be equally as physical as the first, with both teams taking minor penalties that led to chances for either squad. Spartans' netminder Kate Fawcett was tested throughout the night as part of a 35 save performance, and steered aside a barrage of chances in the second, racking up save after save.
 
Despite Fawcett's best efforts in the second, forward Vanessa Schaefer showed exactly why she took home Canada West All-Rookie team honours last season. The second-year UBC forward took a slick pass from Hanna Perrier nearly seven minutes into the period and was turned aside by Fawcett, but stayed with the play to snap home her own rebound and restore UBC's lead.

The hometown crowd was treated to a thriller in the game's final 20 minutes. The Thunderbirds soared into the closing frame and went to the power play after a four-minute roughing penalty was charged to Kasey Ditner. Previously held scoreless, UBC's special teams came through as Morris crashed the crease to bang home her second of the night.

But Trinity Western would not go quietly, proving exactly why they were ranked fourth in the conference in the Canada West preseason coaches poll. With 10 minutes left to go in the game, Spartans forward Kara Yackel snuck in alone on the break and fired one past Hugens.
 
In the game's closing moments, Giesbrecht found herself alone in front of the net looking for her second of the night, but Hugens sprawled to glove what would have been the equalizer.
 
 
NOTABLE

• The Thunderbirds outshot the Spartans 38-20.
• TWU was 1-9 on the power play, while UBC was 1-7 on the power play.
• TWU is currently 2-26 lifetime against UBC.  
• Last night the Spartans fell 3-1 to the Thunderbirds at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C.

 
About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 11 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes as in the NAIA in track and field and cross country and 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 33 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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