Despite two goals from rookie Brendan Lamont, SFU Men’s Hockey fell 6-3 in game one of the BCIHL playoffs to the Trinity Western Spartans.

“There were some parts that were good, the third period we played well, I thought the first 10 minutes were really good, the middle of the game we weren’t that great,” said head coach Mark Coletta. “We’ve got to be better in all aspects of the game.”

Jono Ceci, Adam Callegari, and Lamont were put on a line together. With Ceci and Callegari each having scored two goals in last years playoff series versus the Spartans

Trinity Western opened the scoring nearly six minutes into the game, with Cody Stephenson knocking one in from Dirk de Waal, the Spartans’ regular season goal scoring leader.

Lamont would score his first of the game just two minutes later to tie up the game. The two teams would trade goals, with Mathew Berry-Lamontagna netting his first ever BCIHL playoff goal. However, SFU never held a lead at any point throughout the game.

Trinity Western would score two in the second period, including one shorthanded goal, to give themselves a comfortable lead. The Spartans controlled the period with defensively tight play and a hard physical game.

“We’ve got to match their intensity, match their physicality,” said Coletta.

But SFU came back firing in the third, re-energized after the second period. Lamont scored his second of the night from Brandon Tidy and Berry-Lamontagna with 12:32 left in the period. All SFU goal scorers were alumni of the Coquitlam Express.

However, an ill-timed penalty by SFU led to Trinity Western scoring a fifth goal and once again regaining the two goal lead. The Clan pulled their goalie, but the Spartans finished with an empty net goal to seal the deal, going up 6-3.

Michael Sandor also put up one assist. SFU outshot Trinity Western 36-18. Jordan Liem made 12 saves.

“We’ll evaluate some stuff tonight and come back tomorrow morning, meet with the  team and make adjustments after that,” said Coletta. “We’re a resilient bunch, a good group of kids in there. I think they’re ready to bounce back tomorrow night.

“We’re facing adversity, so we’ve got to be intense, emotionally invested in the game, and execute.”

SFU will have to win tomorrow night at the George Preston Recreation Centre, which will serve as Trinity Western’s home rink rather than the Langley Event Centre because of scheduling conflicts, in order to force a game three that would be held Sunday night at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre. In regular season play, SFU is 5-1-0 against the Spartans.

Puck drop for both games (if necessary) is at 7 pm.