Sandrin stops 36 shots as SFU picks up big home win over Spartans

Trinity Western University lost for the just third time this year as the Spartans dropped a 4-2 decision against Simon Fraser University on Saturday at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre in Burnaby.

Playing for the first time in two weeks, the Spartans outshot SFU 38-18, but were only able to beat Clan netminder Ryan Sandrin twice. Rather, it was SFU scoring four goals on their 18 shots to beat the Spartans and improve to 8-8-0-0 on the year.

The loss drops the league-leading Spartans to 13-3-0-1. Evan Last and Logan Casavant scored for TWU. SFU’s Mitch Newsome had two goals for the Clan, while Graham Smerek and Darnel St. Pierre each had singles.

TWU’s Lucas Mills finished the night with 14 saves, while Sandrin had 36. Last scored 45 seconds into the game, but SFU responded with three first period goals – two power play goals from Newsome and one shorthanded tally from Smerek to take a 3-1 lead into the first intermission.

Casavant got TWU back within a goal with 1:55 to go in the second period, but St. Pierre’s third-period insurance marker sealed the win for SFU.

The Spartans finished the game on a five-minute power play after SFU’s Nicholas Holowko was given a major penalty for charging, but TWU was unable to convert. The Spartans finished the night 0 for 10 on the power play. SFU was 2 for 6.

The Spartans are now 3-2 on the season against the Clan. The win was SFU’s second over the Spartans in January, having beat TWU 5-4 on Jan. 3 at the Langley Events Centre.

The Spartans are back on home ice next weekend when they host Selkirk Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.