EDMONTON, Alberta– Fifth-year goalie Kate Fawcett (Tottenham, Ont.) made 25 saves to lead the Spartans to a shutout win over the MacEwan Griffins Friday night at the Downtown Community Arena in Edmonton, Alta. The win improves the Spartans to 12-12-1-0, while the loss drops the Griffins to 5-18-1-1.
 
Scoring for the Spartans were fourth-year blueliner Presleigh Giesbrecht (Gretna, Alta.) with her sixth of the season, first-year blueliner (Ardrossan, Alta.) with her third of the season, second-year blueliner Kelsey Ledoux (Saskatoon, Sask.) with her first of the season, and fifth-year forward Kara Yackel (Saskatoon, Sask.) with her eighth of the season.
 
MacEwan's Mikayla Christmann made 25 saves in the Griffins loss.
 
UP NEXT
After a bye week the Spartans will now head to Edmonton, Alta. to take on the MacEwan Griffins on February 6-7 at the Downtown Community Arena. Game times are set for 7 p.m. (MT) and 3 p.m. (MT) and can be seen live on Canada West TV.
 
QUOTABLE
Peter Hay, TWU Head Coach
"We executed the game plan with a very strong forecheck creating lots of problems for their defenseman. We were able to find our defence up high. We did a great job finding the net from the point with good screens and net front battles allowing three of our defenceman to score big goals for us. Taps was very good in net for us, and deserved her shut out as she made some big saves at key moments. We have to repeat to get the sweep as we fight for second place!"
AS IT HAPPENED
The matchup between the Trinity Western Spartans and MacEwan opened the scoring with the eventual game winner at 11:19, by Giesbrecht. Sadie Isfeld assisted the play, for Giesbrecht's sixth goal of the season. The Spartans outshot the Griffins 11-6 in the opening frame.
The Spartans extended their lead with Isfeld scoring at 13:47 of the second period, marking her third of the season. Earlier in the period, Kyra McDonald served a two-minute penalty for hooking, but MacEwan was unable to capitalize on the power play. Ella Maternick of MacEwan then took a tripping penalty at 9:46, setting the stage for Trinity Western's advantage, but the Spartans were unable to add to their lead. The Spartans would outshoot the Griffins 10-8 and lead 2–0 after 40 minutes.
Kelsey Ledoux extended the Spartans' lead to 3–0 at 11:51 of the third period with her first goal of the season, assisted by Maisie Kozak and Kasey Ditner. MacEwan had a chance to close the gap but could not capitalize before the Spartans added another goal. Kara Yackel sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 17:35, assisted by McDonald, bringing the final score to 4–0 for the Spartans. MacEwan outshot the Spartans 11-8.
NOTABLE

• The Spartans outshot the Griffins 29-25.
• TWU and MacEan were both 0-1 on the power play.
• The Spartans are currently 9-6 lifetime against the Griffins.
• TWU is 4-1 this season against MacEwan, with all four games at home at the Langley Events Centre.
• TWU has clinched a post season spot and could finish second or third in the division. A second-place finish would give TWU a home series for the start of the post season.
• Alberta is currently in second place in the West division with 27 points, TWU is third with 25 points, with Alberta having a game in hand.
• The Spartans are currently 8-6 lifetime against the Griffins.
• Last week the Spartans were on a bye week. Prior to that they dropped two games to the UBC Thunderbirds in a home and home series, losing 4-2, and 4-0.
• Last week, the Griffins were swept by the same No. 1 UBC Thunderbirds, losing  3-0, and 2-0 in Edmonton, Alta.

 
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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