KAMLOOPS – Three goals in a three-minute span sent the No. 1 ranked Trinity Western Spartans to a 4-1 victory over the host Thompson Rivers WolfPack in Canada West women's soccer action Friday night.
 
Maddie Melynchuk scored twice with Sierra Halldorson and Elizabeth Hicks also adding markers for the Spartans. Georgia Aldus tallied for the WolfPack, with the fourth-year defender scoring the first Canada West goal of her career.
 
"A ton of positives tonight, I thought for the first 15-20 minutes we were really good and caused them a lot of problems," said WolfPack head coach Mark Pennington. "Against the No. 1 ranked team in the country, I think we've given a really good account of ourselves tonight and I think it bodes well for our future."
 
Entering the weekend as the top ranked team in the country, the Spartans did most of their damage during a three-minute period late in the first half.
 
In the 37th minute of play Halldorson stepped up to the penalty spot for the free-kick, and while her initial effort on net was stopped by a diving Danielle Robertson, Halldorson was first to the rebound to score the opening goal. Just minutes later, a run down the wing from Bella Roque ended with a cross that Melynchuk fired into the back of the net. In the 40th minute the Spartans ended their furious goal-scoring run with Melynchuk scoring her second of the night and fifth of the season.
 
Aldus responded for the WolfPack late in the game. With ten minutes left on the clock, WolfPack captain Camryn Curts went on a driving run into the box where a TWU defender was forced to haul her down. Aldus charged from her spot on the back-line, leaving no doubts as to who would be taking the penalty kick before calmly slotting the ball into the back of the net.
 
"That's what we're going to get from Cam and we know that, that's why she's an influential player for us," said Pennington on Curts' efforts that led to the penalty kick. "She'll get the ball and drive at people with pace and power, she's a difficult player to play against."
 
Outside of that all-important three minutes of play, the game was much tighter than the final score would suggest. The WolfPack put four shots on goal compared to the Spartan's eight and hung tough with the current favourite to win the U SPORTS National Championship.
 
These two teams will be back in action tomorrow night with a scheduled kick-off of 5 p.m. Entry is by donation with all donations supporting student-athlete scholarships and fans 12-and-over will be required to show proof of full vaccination.