LANGLEY, British Columbia – Second-year forward
Shae LaPrade (Calgary, Alta.) scored twice as the Trinity Western Spartans held off a third-period rally to defeat the Manitoba Bisons 4-2 Saturday evening at The ARENAS at the Langley Events Centre. The Spartans improve to 5-2-1 in Canada West play, while the Bisons fall to 4-4.
First-year forward
Audrina Freeman (Dawson Creek, B.C.) scored her first Canada West goal, and first-year forward
Avaya McCann (Okotoks, Alta.) added the eventual winner as TWU built a 3-0 lead through two periods. Fifth-year defender
Presleigh Giesbrecht (Gretna, Man.) contributed two assists.
Second-year goaltender
Grace Deveau (St. Albert, Alta.) made 24 saves to earn her third win in as many starts. Cypress Classen stopped 17 shots for Manitoba, which received third-period goals from Norah Collins and Addison Vines.
TWU collected three of a possible four points over the weekend after Friday's 3-2 overtime loss. The Spartans now have 11 points in the West Division standings, three ahead of Manitoba's eight.
QUOTABLE
Peter Hay, TWU Head Coach
"Like I said yesterday, this is all about the process and learning. This group found a way to win tonight, even though Manitoba came back hard at us again. I liked how we responded and played the right way. We were able to play everybody tonight, which allowed us to maintain our energy and get full-team buy-in. I really like how we're coming together and playing the right way as a group."
"It was another good win from Grace, and it was good to see Freeman get her first goal. I like that we're getting scoring from different players this year. It makes us more dangerous and gives us lots of offensive threats."
"I'm very proud of Boon and Presleigh for playing big minutes against Manitoba's top line. I also liked that our power play produced two goals, which was big for us. Now we'll continue to get better and prepare for Saskatchewan, with more huge points on the line."
UP NEXT
The Spartans host Saskatchewan on Friday, November 6, and Saturday, November 7, at The ARENAS at the Langley Events Centre. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. (PT) Friday and 3 p.m. (PT) Saturday, with both games available live on Canada West TV.
AS IT HAPPENED
LaPrade opened the scoring on the power play at 15:05 of the first period. Fifth-year forward
Kara Yackel (West St. Paul, Man.) and fifth-year defender
Ella Boon (Vanderhoof, B.C.) earned the assists as TWU took a 1-0 lead into the intermission.
Freeman doubled the lead with another power-play goal at 6:51 of the second period, assisted by first-year forward
Kamryn Reiber (Okotoks, Alta.) and Giesbrecht. McCann made it 3-0 at 10:55, with fifth-year defender
Bailey Fiala (Cochrane, Alta.) and Giesbrecht assisting.
Manitoba responded at 3:41 of the third period when Collins scored, assisted by Sadie Keller and Sara Harbus. Vines pulled the Bisons within one at 12:47, with Claire Moorman and Kelsey Huibers collecting the assists.
The Spartans protected their one-goal advantage before LaPrade scored an unassisted empty-net goal at 18:37 to secure the win.
NOTABLE
- TWU is now 7-12 all-time against Manitoba, including a 6-10 record in Canada West regular season meetings.
- Manitoba outshot TWU 26-21, including 12-7 in the third period. The Spartans finished 2-for-4 on the power play and did not take a penalty, leaving the Bisons without a power-play opportunity.
- The Spartans are now 8-for-35 (22.9 percent) on the power play this season.
- Deveau improved to 3-0 with a 1.33 goals-against average and a .960 save percentage, having stopped 95 of 99 shots over 180 minutes.
- LaPrade increased her season goal total to three, while McCann scored her third goal in four appearances. Freeman became the 11th Spartan to score this season.
- Boon recorded three assists over the weekend and leads TWU with six assists. Yackel finished the series with a goal and two assists.
- The victory ended Manitoba's four-game winning streak. Collins extended her goal-scoring streak to five games and increased her season total to six.
- The teams will meet again January 8 and 9 in Winnipeg.
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 and field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes independently in men's rugby and women's and men's disc golf. Since joining U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 15 U SPORTS team championships and 35 Canada West team championships.
ABOUT TRINITY WESTERN UNIVERSITY
Recognized for quality, TWU has received seven consecutive A+ rankings for Quality of Teaching and Learning and holds three Canada Research Chairs. Through its whole-person, Christ-centred approach to education, TWU offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate and adult degree-completion programs that equip leaders of character and competence to make a positive impact in the lives of others.
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