WINNIPEG, Manitoba — The Trinity Western Spartans season came to an end with a 5-2 loss to the Manitoba Bisons Sunday afternoon at the Wayne Fleming Arena in Winnipeg, Man. The Spartans took the early lead, but the Bisons scored three second-period goals to advance to the Canada West semifinals next week with a 2-1 series victory.
 
Special teams proved to be the difference with the Bisons scoring a power play goal and a short-handed goal.
 
Scoring for the Spartans was fourth-year forward Kyra McDonald (Inuvik, NT) with both goals
Scoring for the Bisons were Ashley Keller, Brenna Nicol, Sadie Keller, Kylie Lesuk, and Julia Bird.
 
Fourth-year goalie Kate Fawcett (Tottenham, Ont.) made 17 saves, while rookie Olivia Davidson (Edmonton, Alta.) made five saves in the Spartans loss. Manitoba's Emily Shippam made 20 saves in the Bisons win.
 
QUOTABLE
Trinity Western Head Coach Peter Hay on the decision to pull Fawcett and return her to the net for the third period.
"She's been outstanding all year, me pulling her had nothing to do with her ability. It was completely due to she got pelted yesterday, she saved over 100 shots in the first two games, and she's tired so I didn't want to see the game get away from her with the physical fatigue and mental fatigue on her. She got a bit of a rest but wanted to go back in and be a true warrior, [I'm] proud of her for that."
 
AS IT HAPPENED
The Spartans had one of their best periods of the series outshooting the Bisons 12-5. TWU's McDonald got the opening goal at 10:58 when her shot along the ice fooled Shippam and slid into the back of the Bisons' net. Manitoba's Ashley Keller was able to send the teams into the dressing room tied when her shot from the point deflected off of a TWU defender and past Fawcett to tie the game at 1-1 with 12 seconds remaining. TWU was 0-1 on the power play in the opening period.
 
The Bisons got a quick power play at 2:17 of the second period.  Manitoba's Nicol was able to take advantage of the extra skater and gave the Bisons the lead at 2:40 of the second period. Sadie Keller put the Bisons up two goals with a short-handed goal on a two-on-one break at 6:24 of the second period. The Bisons Lesuk put the home team up three goals when she converted on a two-on-one opportunity to give Manitoba a 4-1 lead with 3:55 remaining in the period. Manitoba outshot Trinity Western 10-4 in the second period.
 
The Spartans leading scorer got her second of the game at 3:30 when McDonald created a turnover and a two-on-one rush to make it a two-goal game with TWU trailing 4-2. The Bisons put the game away with Bird's empty-net goal at 17:45 of the period to make the final 5-2 for Manitoba. Manitoba outshot TWU 12-6 in the period.
 
NOTABLE 

• The Bisons outshot the Spartans 27-22.
• TWU was 0-3 on the power play, while Manitoba was 1-1.
• The Spartans finished in third place in the West division at 14-12-1-1, while the Bisons finished in second place in the East division at 15-11-0-2.
• The Spartans defeated the Bisons 3-1 in game one Friday night and lost 2-1 in 3OT Saturday night.
• The Spartans are currently 5-9 lifetime against the Manitoba Bisons.
• Early this year the Spartans split with the Bisons losing 4-1 and winning 3-2 January 10-11.
• TWU fourth-year goalie Kate Fawcett (Tottenham, Ont.)  was named Canada West Women's Hockey Player of the Week.

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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