CALGARY, Alberta – The Trinity Western Spartans used a dominant first period, scoring three times in just under four minutes, on their way to a 5-1 win over the Calgary Dinos. Giving the Spartans game one of the best-of-three Canada West quarter-final game Friday night at the Father David Bauer Arena in Calgary, Alta.
 
The Spartans finished the Canada West regular season in third place in the West division with a 14-12-2-0 record, while the Dinos finished the regular season in second place in the East division at 16-7-5-0.
 
Scoring for the Spartans was fourth-year blueliner Ella Boon (Vanderhoof, B.C.) with two goals, who had one goal and nine assists in conference play; third-year forward Kyra Anderson (Regina, Sask.), who had two goals and four assists in conference play; first-year forward Keelyn Pisani (Sturgeon County, Alta.), who had two goals on the season: and fifth-year Kailey Ledoux (Saskatoon, Sask.), who had seven goals and one assist this season.
 
Scoring for the Dinos was Jess Martens, who had eight goals and six assists in conference play.
 
Trinity Western fifth-year goalie Kate Fawcett (Tottenham, Ont.) made 26 saves in the Spartans' win. Calgary's Amelia Awad made five saves in 12:10 minutes, and Maisie Cope made 22 saves in 47:50 minutes, in the Dinos loss.
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans and the Dinos will continue the best-of-three quarter-final series with game two tomorrow at 7 p.m. (MT) at the Father David Bauer Arena in Calgary, Alta. The match can be seen live on Canada West TV.
 
QUOTABLE
Peter Hay, TWU Head Coach
"A great start to the series, playing the right way. Our team executed the game plan to a T and kept rolling like a machine for the entire game. I'm very proud of every player on this team for all the little things they did for this victory, as every player contributed in some capacity. I love the energy on the bench, the care for each other, and the selfless attitude: nobody cares who gets the credit; they're excited for the team's success. Tomorrow's gonna be another huge battle. Calgary will come out hungry, but if we can keep the machine rolling the same way and rinse and repeat, I like our chances to take this series. Tonight, Taps had great goaltending, and the two power-play goals were big. Most importantly, we are having fun! It's pretty contagious."   
    
Ella Boon, on the game and the team
"It's a surreal feeling for sure. I've only had one goal all year, so to come in and get two in the playoffs is pretty cool. My family is here too – so that's really cool – but honestly just doing it for the team and doing whatever I can to help out to get a win."
 
"We had to bus 12 hours yesterday because we couldn't get flights, so it was kind of unexpected how we were going to come out today – just with the long travel day and everything – but I'm really proud of every single girl in the dressing room and how prepared we were and how fast we came out."

AS IT HAPPENED
The Spartans took command early in the first period, with Boon opening the scoring at 8:12, assisted by Sadie Isfeld and Brook Dorash. A tripping penalty on Calgary's Hannah Reagh at 10:10 gave Trinity Western a power-play opportunity, which Kyra Anderson capitalized on just 21 seconds later, assisted by Kara Yackel and Isfeld to put TWU up 2-0. TWU extended their lead further at 12:10 when Keelyn Pisani scored, with Michela Naccarato providing the assist, closing the period with a 3–0 advantage. The three goals in under four minutes would give the Spartans a 3-0 lead after the opening 20 minutes. TWU ended the period outshooting Calgary 13-11.

Ledoux extended the Spartans' lead to 4–0 at 3:02 of the second period, converting a goal with assists from Emily Karpan and Chayce Kullman. Calgary tried to capitalize on two power-play opportunities, starting with a holding penalty on Ashley Breitkreuz at 4:12 and later with a head contact penalty on Pisani at 14:24, but failed to break through as TWU's penalty kill held Calgary off the scoresheet. The period ended without further scoring, maintaining Trinity Western's commanding four-goal lead. The Spartans would outshoot the Dinos 7-5 in the period.

In the third period, Calgary's Jess Martens scored at 5:37, after a TWU defensive miscue to cut the Spartans' lead to 4-1. The Spartans' defence faced multiple penalties, including a cross-checking call against Isfeld and a tripping penalty on Breitkreuz, both of which resulted in power plays for Calgary. But again, the Spartans' PK kept the Dinos from gaining any momentum. Trinity Western regained the four-goal margin when Boon netted her second of the night with a power-play goal at 18:54, assisted by Anderson and Olivia Leier. The Dinos had opportunities down the stretch, but TWU's Fawcett kept Calgary from finding the back of the net as TWU took the opening game of the series 5-1. TWU outshot Calgary 12-11 in the final period.

NOTABLE

• The Spartans outshot the Dinos 32-27.
• TWU was 2-2 on the power play, while Calgary was 0-4.
• Earlier this year, the Spartans lost 3-2 in overtime and 2-0 in regulation to the Dinos on November 14-15 in Calgary, Alta.
• Last season, when the teams were in the same division, TWU finished 5-1 against the Dinos.
• The Spartans are currently 8-10 lifetime against Calgary.
• Last week, the Spartans hosted the Regina Cougars and lost in overtime, 3-2, and won 1-0 in regulation in their final conference games of the season.
• Last week, the Dinos lost in overtime 3-2 and in regulation 5-0 to the Manitoba Bisons in Winnipeg, Man.
• Manitoba defeated Alberta 5-2 in game one of the other quarterfinals match-up in Edmonton, Alta.
• The winner of the Trinity Western-Calgary series will match up with the UBC Thunderbirds in a best-of-three series beginning Friday, February 27, in Vancouver, 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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