Spartans pick up second win with road decision over Fraser Valley

The Trinity Western University Spartans scored three second period goals on their way to a much needed 3-2 win over the University of the Fraser Valley Sunday night at the Abbotsford Events and Sports Centre in Abbotsford, B.C.

“We had a solid game from everyone,” commented TWU head coach Dwayne Lowdermilk. “(Goaltender) JP (Chapman) had another good night, the forwards did their job driving the net and getting their shots and the defence played well.”

The win improves the Spartans' record to 2-4-0 and snaps a four-game losing streak. In their season opener the Spartans defeated UFV 5-4 at the Langley Events Centre. The loss moves UFV to 0-8-0.

After a scoreless first period, Spartans forward Nathan Wiebe opened the scoring at 17:15 with assists going to defenceman Benton Nickel and forward Robert Vos. Fraser Valley’s Matt Ehrenreich answered the Spartans score at 9:25 with a power play marker. The assists went to Andrew Shaw and Brett Reusch.

Spartans centre Sam Ahlgren made it 2-1 for TWU at 4:26 of the frame on a goal set up by forward Ian Spencer and forward Brandon Long. TWU’s Vos then got his second point of the night and the eventual game winner on a power-play goal with 2:10 remaining in the game. Assists on the goal went to forward Trevor Edwards and forward Matt Chaput.

UFV outshot TWU 11-4 in the final period and were able to pull within one when Riley Cullen scored on the power play with 5:02 remaining. The assists went to Nathan Sagert and Simon Brouwer.

On the game the Spartans were outshot 40-32, but their power play, which went two for four, and the goaltending of Chapman ended up being the difference. UFV went two for eight on the power play, while Chapman made 38 saves to earn the victory.

Fraser Valley’s Adam Postmus made 29 saves in the loss.

The two teams will match up again on Nov. 12 in Langley. Game time at the Langley Events Centre is set for 7 p.m.

Game Notes: TWU had nine penalties on the night, while UFV had five.