WINNIPEG -- On Friday night, the University of Manitoba Bisons women's hockey team welcomed the Trinity Western Spartans to The Rink Training Centre for the first of a two-game weekend series between the two sides. 
 
In a game that saw their opponent take a total of ten minor penalties, the Bisons captured their third win of the season, improving their record to 3-2-0-0 early in their Canada West campaign. Goals from Sarah Dennehy, Halle Edwards, Kate Gregoire and Sam Sichkaruk propelled Manitoba to the 4-1 victory. 
 
"The rhythm was definitely different," commented Bisons head coach Jon Rempel, speaking to the 13 total penalties taken in the game. 
 
"I thought our physicality, size and ability to sustain offensive zone pressure gave them some problems today. Overall, we created a lot of high-danger chances and got pucks to the net." 
 
With the loss, the Spartans see their record fall to 3-4-0-0 on the season.
 
The first period brought three separate power play opportunities for Manitoba, with the first two coming on back-to-back calls against the Spartans at 11:57 and 10:14 of the first. 
 
Despite a flurry of chances from the Bisons, Trinity Western's goalie, Kate Fawcett, stood tall. The second-year netminder tallied five saves in the period, with her best coming on breakaway chance from Manitoba's captain Kaitlyn Chatyrbok. 
 
After the missed breakaway opportunity by the Bisons, Trinity Western opened the scoring at the 2:59 mark when Brooklyn Anderson beat Manitoba goalie Kimmy Davidson with a shot through the five-hole. The herd went back on the power play for the third time to end the period but could not convert, giving the Spartans a 1-0 advantage after 20 minutes of play. 

It took Manitoba less than a minute into the middle frame to tie the game at 1-1. Jena Barscello and Sarah Dennehy broke free for a two-on-zero and after a few back and forth passes, Dennehy potted her first goal of the year.  
 
Four minutes later, during a faceoff in the Spartans zone, the Bisons' Aimee Patrick won the draw forward and after a TWU turnover, the puck was picked up by Halle Edwards in front of the net who beat Fawcett with a no-look backhand shot, making it 2-1 for the herd.
 
Trinity Western enjoyed back-to-back power plays of their own late in the second period but were unable to capitalize. 
 
After a slashing penalty taken by the Spartans Kate Klassen with 19 seconds left, Manitoba quickly extended their lead to 3-1 just eight seconds before the end of the period. 
 
Camille Enns found Kate Gregoire alone in front for Manitoba's fifth power play goal of the season. Clipping at 25 percent coming into the game, the Bisons are in the top two in power play goals and power play pencentage this season.    
 
The march to the penalty box continued throughout the third period for Trinity Western, but the three-goal middle frame combined with Sichkaruk's empty not goal at the end of the game was enough for Manitoba to seal the 4-1 victory.
 
The Spartans and Bisons return to the ice again tomorrow at 2 p.m. for the second and final game of the weekend, once again at The Rink Training Centre in Oak Bluff, Manitoba.