LANGLEY, British Columbia – First-year forward
Audrina Freeman (Dawson Creek, B.C.) scored at 3:50 of overtime after fourth-year forward
Kyra Anderson (Regina, Sask.) tied the game with 1:04 remaining in regulation, to lift the Trinity Western Spartans to a 2-1 victory over the Saskatchewan Huskies Saturday at the ARENAS at the Langley Events Centre, in Langley, B.C.
With the win, the Spartans improve to 7-2-1 and remain first in the Canada West West Division with 15 points, three ahead of UBC. Saskatchewan moves to 4-4-2 and remains fourth in the division with 10 points. TWU has earned points in seven consecutive games, with six wins and one overtime loss during that stretch.
Anderson scored her team-leading fifth goal of the season with an extra attacker on the ice before Freeman completed the comeback with her second goal of the season. Third-year defender
Chayce Kullman (Bragg Creek, Alta.) assisted on both goals as TWU swept the weekend series following Friday's 4-2 victory.
Second-year goaltender
Grace Deveau (St. Albert, Alta.) stopped 20 shots to earn her fourth win in as many starts this season. Emma Backman made 30 saves for Saskatchewan, while Jacquelyne Chief scored the Huskies' lone goal.
UP NEXT
The Spartans will now travel to Regina to face the Cougars Friday, November 13, and Saturday, November 14, at The Co-operators Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday and 5 p.m. Saturday local time, with both games available live on Canada West TV.
QUOTABLE
Peter Hay, TWU Head Coach
"I couldn't be more proud of how this team responded after a very average game yesterday, even though we won. We weren't happy with how we played, and after today's video session and some changes, I felt we came out and played the right way. Unfortunately, hockey didn't reward us with what we deserved after an amazing first period, but we stuck to the process, kept working and kept doing what we asked. Overall, we are very happy with how we played."
"A lucky shot deflecting off a knee to put Saskatchewan up 1-0 is just how hockey works sometimes, but we kept fighting and working hard. I'm super proud of how we found a way to tie it late in the game with our goalie pulled. Grace was outstanding again. We're lucky to have two very good goaltenders playing right now, and I was very impressed with how we never gave up, right to the final buzzer, icing on the cake to win it in overtime too."
"It was great to see some young rookies make a big difference in those intense moments, including a massive contribution from Kamryn with our goalie pulled and a big overtime goal by Freeman. Outcomes are nice, but the process is what we're about this year. We'll learn, grow and get back to work Monday to prepare for Regina."
AS IT HAPPENED
TWU controlled the opening period with an 8-2 shot advantage, but Backman turned aside all eight attempts to keep the game scoreless. Deveau stopped both Saskatchewan shots.
Chief opened the scoring at 13:42 of the second period, with an assist from Avery Gottselig. The Spartans outshot the Huskies 10-7 in the frame, but Saskatchewan carried a 1-0 lead into the third.
With Deveau pulled for an extra attacker, Anderson tied the game at 18:56 of the third period. Kullman and first-year forward
Kamryn Reiber (Okotoks, Alta.) earned the assists. TWU held an 11-10 edge in third-period shots, with Deveau stopping all 10 attempts.
Freeman scored the winner at 3:50 of overtime, assisted by fifth-year forward
Kara Yackel (West St. Paul, Man.) and Kullman. The Spartans outshot Saskatchewan 3-2 in the extra period.
NOTABLE
- TWU outshot Saskatchewan 32-21, with period totals of 8-2, 10-7, 11-10 and 3-2. Freeman led the Spartans with five shots.
- Neither team scored on the power play. Saskatchewan took four minor penalties for eight minutes, while TWU took one minor for two minutes.
- TWU is now 9-7 all-time against Saskatchewan, with all 16 meetings coming in Canada West regular-season play. The Spartans have won six consecutive meetings and are 7-3 against the Huskies at home.
- The Spartans have collected 13 of a possible 14 points during their seven-game points streak. Saturday's victory was their third straight win and first overtime win of the season.
- Yackel's assist increased her Canada West regular-season career total to 45 points, keeping her fourth on TWU's career list. She remains the program's career goals leader with 28 after Friday's record-setting natural hat trick, when she scored three times in 81 seconds and tied the single-game goals and points records.
- Fifth-year defenders Presleigh Giesbrecht (Gretna, Man.) and Ella Boon (Vanderhoof, B.C.) remain tied with Jordyn Matthews and Olivia Leier for TWU's Canada West regular-season career assists record at 28. Neither added an assist Saturday.
- Kullman recorded her first two assists of the season. Anderson leads TWU with nine points, while Freeman has five points through her first 10 Canada West games.
- Deveau has stopped 115 of 120 shots this season for a .958 save percentage and a 4-0 record.
- The Huskies have lost four consecutive games. The teams meet again February 5 and 6 in Saskatoon.
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
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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