Spartans rally from Vikes comeback, pick up crucial win in shootout

---

Trinity Western University got back in the win column for the first time in 10 outings as the Spartans snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 6-5 shootout win over Victoria on Friday at the Ian Stewart Complex.

After 10 straight unsuccessful shootout attempts from each team, TWU's Jamie Russell finally beat Vikes goalie Nick Babich for what would prove to be the winning goal on the Spartans 11th opportunity.

Spartans goalie Silas Matthys stopped Victoria's Chris Manhas to seal the win.

The last time the Spartans won in BCIHL action was also in a shootout, when they beat Eastern Washington 4-3 on Nov. 1.

The win improves TWU to 6-10 on the year while the loss drops Victoria to 2-11-0-2.

Victoria's Eli Wiebe scored with 30 seconds left in the third period to send the game to overtime but the Vikes were ultimately unable to complete the comeback.

After opening the game with the first two goals, the Spartans built a 4-1 second period lead only to see Victoria rally and score three straight goals to tie the game 4-4. Before the second period was over, the Spartans reestablished their lead when Russell scored with a 1:40 left in the period.

A back and forth third period went scoreless until the Vikes scored with 30 seconds remaining. In overtime, TWU outshot Victoria 4-0.

Along with Russell's goal, the Spartans also got markers from Trevor Beaupre, Brett Wur, Christian Rodriguez and JP Villeneuve.

Scoring for Victoria were Brad Robinson, Shawn Mueller, Evan Warner, Luciano Somerville and Wiebe.

Matthys made 27 saves in the win while Babich stopped 29 of the 34 shots he faced. The Spartans were three for three on the power play while Victoria was one for three.

"It was a good game for us," said Spartans coach Barret Kropf. "Obviously we had some mental lapses here and there in allowing them to come back, but overall it was a solid effort. Silas had a great game. As a team, we played well and we definitely gained some confidence from that win."

Beaupre opened the scoring 1:37 into the first period before Wur doubled TWU’s lead with a shorthanded goal at 7:15 of the opening frame. Then with just over five minutes left in the first, Robinson got Victoria within one.

With a pair of power play goals from Rodriguez and Villeneuve, TWU took a 4-1 lead less than seven minutes into the middle stanza. But with three goals in less than four minutes from Mueller, Warner and Somerville, the Vikes evened the score line 4-4.

An unassisted power play goal from Russell gave TWU a 5-4 lead heading to the third period. However, Russell’s goal set the stage for Wiebe’s regulation time dramatics that give the Vikes a much-needed point in the standings.

The two teams are back on the ice at 12:30 PM Saturday for the rematch.

Game Notes: The Spartans are 3-0 in shootouts since the BCIHL implemented them last year.