Lethbridge – Trinity Western Spartans scored early and rode that early goal to a 1-0 win over the Lethbridge Pronghorns in the second to last conference game for both teams.

With the win the Spartans improve to 7-4-2 and move three points ahead of the Calgary Dinos for the final playoff spot in the conference. With the loss the ‘Horns fall to 1-11-1 with one more game remaining on the schedule.

Boxscore

In a theme that has become far too frequent for the ‘Horns this season, they found themselves behind the eight-ball early, surrendering a goal in the seventh minute. Shawn Parkes sprung Goran Vitic with a long ball from his own end. Vitic headed the ball over ‘Horns keeper Colin Patterson, as he charged off his line.

Off the restart, the ‘Horns did mount some offensive pressure and generated a pair of quality chances of their own. Freshman Chris Rushworth forced Spartan keeper Andrew Fink to make an outstanding diving save in the 17^th minute and off a great cross from Lucas Rajcic, Conner Brady narrowly missed at the back post.

While the pace slowed for the second half, with both teams build ups being turned away by solid defending, Pattison was forced to make a excellent save to keep the ‘Horns with- in one. Pattison dove to his left to snag a quality strike from Spencer Schmidt.

The second half continued very much the same as the end of the first half with the majority of the play staying between the penalty areas and very few dangerous chances going either way.

Rushworth had another chance early but his shot slid wide. On the other side, with just over twenty minutes remaining, Parkes’ free kick just outside the penalty area eluded Pattison but found the crossbar.

Pattison was tested again in the 80^th minute but was equal to the task, diving to his right to turn away Jordan Whitehead.
The ‘Horns had one last chance to tie the score, off a Justin Larivere long throw but Rushworth volleyed the ball over the bar.

 Pattison finished with 5 saves, which leaves him 2 short of setting a new Canada West single season record for saves. Victoria’s Dan Kilpatrick currently holds the record of 88 saves set in 2009.

The ‘Horns will conclude their 2011 Canada West season tomorrow afternoon hosting the UBC Thunderbirds, while the Spartans will travel to Calgary to face the DInos in a game that will determine the fourth seed in the Canada West final four.