Spartans hold on in third to top Selkirk, sweep weekend series vs. Saints

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The Trinity Western Spartans won its second game in a row as they knocked off the Selkirk College Saints 4-3 to complete a weekend sweep on the road Sunday afternoon.

The Spartans, who beat the Saints 5-3 Saturday night, scored three goals in the second period to build a 3-1 lead and then hung on in the third period for an important victory.

Brad Bakken, who was ejected from Saturday’s game for a check from behind, and Kye Benjaminsen led the Spartans offence as they each had a goal and an assist. For Selkik, Adam Makaroff had a goal and an assist while Jordan Wood, who is second in the BCIHL in scoring with 18 points in 10 games, had two assists.

The win improves the Spartans record to 3-6-1 while the Saints fall to 3-7-0.

“The boys had a lot of heart and we have really built a lot of character over this weekend,” said Spartans coach Dwayne Lowdermilk. “We battled right to the end and got a much-needed win.”

Like Saturday’s game, the Saints got on the board first, early in the opening period, when Makaroff lit the lamp just 1:06 into the game. With both teams getting shutout on their two first period powerplays, the game remained 1-0 going into the first intermission.

In the second period, the Spartans capitalized on both of their powerplays as Benjaminsen scored less than four minutes into the middle stanza to tie the game 1-1 and just over two minutes later Bakken gave Trinity Western a 2-1 lead.

With 5:30 to go in the period, Dylan Mooney kept the Spartans offensive surge going as he gave Trinity Western a 3-1 lead heading to the final period. Less than three minutes into the third, Spartans leading scorer Trevor Beaupre notched his fifth goal of the season to give the visitors a 4-1 advantage.

The Saints rallied shortly thereafter though, scoring two goals before the 10-minute mark, off the sticks of Sandro Moser and Garrett Kucher. But that was as close as they would come as Trinity Western, despite allowing the Saints two late-game powerplays, hung on for the 4-3 win.

For Trinity Western, Brandon Long had two assists while Matthew Markowsky, Chris Stew and Matt Chaput each had one assist. Selkirk’s Andrew Green and Scott Jago also each had one assist.

Trinity Western’s Tim Zwiers made 27 saves in the win while Selkirk’s Spenser Wong was good on 25 of 29 shots thrown his way.

The Spartans are back at home Nov. 25-26 when they host Eastern Washington on Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Thompson Rivers on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Both games are at the Langley Events Centre.

The Saints next game is Nov. 26 at Okanagan College at 7:45 p.m.

Game Notes – Selkirk outshot TWU 30-29…TWU was 2 for 4 on the powerplay…Selkirk was 1 for 6.