Last scores winner as TWU defeat UVic on the road, strengthen grip on first

Trinity Western University’s Evan Last scored a second period marker to complete a comeback from two goals down and lead the Spartans to a 3-2 win over Victoria Friday at the Ian Stewart Complex.

The Vikes scored twice in the first four minutes of the game, but TWU responded with two goals before the opening period was out and then Last secured the victory late in the middle frame. Jordan Bogress and Dustin Deugau also scored for the Spartans, with Bogress also adding an assist on Last’s goal. Travis Verveda had two assists for TWU.

Victoria’s Blake Holowaty and Carter Huber scored for the home side.

The Spartans are now 15-4-0-1 and have a three-point cushion and two games in hand on second-place Selkirk. The Vikes (3-15-0-2) are fifth and will miss the playoffs.

TWU netminder Jacob Mills made 31 saves for his BCIHL-leading 13th win of the season. The Vikes' Michael Fredrick stopped 37 of the 40 shots he faced.

Holowaty opened the scoring two minutes into the first period and less than two minutes later Huber made it 2-0. Bogress scored only 11 seconds after Huber before Deugau tallied on the power play with 6:04 left in the period to tie the game. With 2:09 remaining in the second period, Last potted the game-winner.

Mills stopped all 10 shots he faced in the third period and the Spartans held off a late Vikes power play to earn the win.

“We got off to a bit of a shaky start and Victoria was good early and scored a couple of quick ones, but I was proud of how we bounced back," says TWU head coach Barret Kropf. "It was a group of men who really bought in tonight and Millsy made some key saves and gave us a chance to win."

"I thought Joe Sylvain and Kenny Batke both gave extremely consistent efforts tonight and played a simple game and just did the little things right. They did their jobs and were dialed in and had great games. I’m really excited that we had all four lines and all three pairings playing well tonight."

The Spartans are now 3-0-0-1 on the season against Victoria.

Last is now tied for 17th all-time in BCIHL career scoring, with 85 points, including 27 goals and 58 assists.

The Spartans are back on home ice Saturday when they travel to Nanaimo, B.C. to play Vancouver Island University. Puck drop is at 7:15 p.m.