Mark Janzen, Trinity Western University

LANGLEY, B.C. – Trinity Western exploded for five goals in the first half, including four in a span of less than 12 minutes, to launch a decisive 6-2 win over Calgary in the Canada West Quarter-Finals Saturday at Chase Office Field.

Leighton Johnson (Strathmore, Alta.) had two and an assist, while Aidan Moore (Langley) and Joel Waterman (Aldergrove, B.C.) each tallied a goal and two assists to help TWU to its biggest offensive output in more than 14 years, dating back to a 6-1 regular season win over Lethbridge Oct. 18, 2003.

With the game tied 1-1, Domenic Poletto (Calgary) sparked the Spartans offence with a goal in the 34th minute. Two minutes later Johnson put the Spartans up 3-1, before he scored again in the 43rd minute. Just moments before the halftime whistle Moore got in on the goal-scoring action to send TWU into the break up 5-1.

In the second half, Calgary's Bori Falaye scored a 61st minute goal before Cody Fransen (Lydnen, Wash.) buried TWU's sixth of the night in 82nd minute.

Waterman opened the scoring in the 14th minute, but the Dinos equalized five minutes later when Falaye knocked home a rebound off a penalty kick. After Waterman was issued a yellow card for a take-down in the Spartans box, TWU goalkeeper Sebastian Colyn (Langley) made a leaping save on the ensuing penalty kick, but the ball deflected off the crossbar and came down to Falaye.

However, 15 minutes later, the Spartans offensive attack began in full force.

TWU finished with 19 shots to Calgary's eight and nine shots on goal to the Dinos four.

Colyn finished the night with two saves for the win, while Calgary's Jake Ruschkowski stopped three of the six shots he faced.

QUOATABLE
TWU Head Coach Mike Shearon
"It was a great first-half performance. I would have never thought that we'd be up 5-1 at halftime. Full credit to our players in terms of taking what they gave us. I think they tried to stop a lot of the things we normally like to do and instead of trying to force things, we just went for it. The flood gates opened and we just kept going. I was a little bit disappointed in the second half in some ways, but overall it was full marks for the players tonight.

On playing Alberta in the Canada West Semifinals
"Alberta has been ranked all year and it's going to be a tough game. They're a quality side, so we need to make sure we are ready to go and that we have a good week of training."

NOTABLE
• Saturday's game was the second straight playoff tilt between the two sides. Last year, TWU beat the Dinos 4-1 in the Canada West Bronze Medal Match.
• TWU beat Calgary 1-0 on the road this year in the regular season.
• Waterman now has six goals and three assists in nine games since returning from injury midway through the season.

UP NEXT
The Spartans will play Alberta, who beat UNBC in their quarter-final match, in the Canada West semifinals, which will be hosted by UBC.

-TW-