LANGLEY, British Columbia – Trinity Western second-year forward Ashley Breitkreuz (Regina, Sask.) played the hero as she scored at 2:15 of overtime to lead the No. 4 Spartans to a come-from-behind 3-2 OT win over the defending Canada West champion No. 2 Alberta Pandas Saturday afternoon at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C.
 
Also scoring for the Spartans was fifth-year Chloe Reid (Leduc, Alta.) with two goals.
Scoring for the Pandas were Ryann Perrett, and Hailey Carothers
 
Fifth-year goalie Kate Fawcett (Tottenham, Ont.) made 24 saves in the Spartans' win. Alberta's Grace Glover made 39 saves in the Pandas' loss.
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans will now have a home-and-home series with the UBC Thunderbirds next week. On Friday, October 10, the Spartans will host the Thunderbirds at 7 p.m. (PT). On Saturday, October 11, the two teams will play at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, with puck drop at 3 p.m. (PT). Both games can be seen live on CanadaWest.TV.
 
QUOTABLE
Peter Hay, TWU Head Coach
"A great way to start off the season, getting two wins against the number two-ranked team in Canada West, showing that we are a strong team this year. We're never satisfied, and we're only going to get better. Each player contributed, and we are just such a tight-knit group of extremely hard-working players who have all bought in. We fought right to the end, never gave up, and it showed as we found our way back in the game to go into overtime and find a way to win and secure a four-point weekend against a very strong Alberta team."
AS IT HAPPENED
After a scoreless first period, Alberta's Perrett put the Pandas on the board when she one timed a pass from Hailey Carothers from the slot past Fawcett to put Alberta up 1-0 at 2:30 of the second period. TWU's Reid got the equalizer when Ella Boon sent her in on a breakaway. Boon took her time to tie the game at 1-1 at 10:18 of the period. The Pandas responded quickly and 38 seconds later retook the lead with Carothers getting open between the circles to go five-hole and give Alberta a 2-1 lead at 10:56. The Spartans would have a brief five-on-three power play, but were unable to get an equalizer as TWU trailed 2-1 after 40 minutes.
 
After numerous opportunities in the final period, TWU's Reid was able to get the equalizer at 14:53 when she deflected a shot from third-year blueliner Kasey Ditner (Fort St. John, B.C.) to even the game at 2-2 with 5:07 remaining in the game. After killing an Alberta power play, the Spartans dominated the final three minutes but were unable to take the lead, and for the second night in a row, the two teams would go to overtime to decide the winner.
 
Breitkreuz scored the game-winner at 2:15 of the extra period. After multiple shots in close on Alberta's Glover, Breitkreuz was able to get the puck past the Alberta goalie to give TWU the victory and the weekend sweep of the Pandas.
 
NOTABLE

• The Spartans outshot the Pandas 42-26.
• TWU was 1-5 on the power play, while Alberta was 0-6 on the power play.
• TWU was ranked No. 4 in the Canada West preseason coaches poll, while Alberta was ranked No. 2, with UBC ranked No. 1 and Mount Royal No. 3.
• The Spartans finished preseason at 0-2. Alberta finished 2-4 in preseason play.
• TWU is currently 4-10 lifetime against Alberta.
• In their previous meeting last season, the Spartans lost 4-3 in a shootout to the Pandas at home in Langley, B.C.
• TWU finished the 2024-25 season at 14-12-1-2-1-1 and in third place in the West Division. Alberta finished last season with a record of 24-3-3-2-0-1, placing them in first place in the East Division.
• The Pandas are the defending CW champions. The Spartans lost in the CW quarterfinals two games to one against the Manitoba Bisons.

 
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.  
 
-TW-