EDMONTON - The Pandas scored two powerplay goals within a half-minute of each other to beat the Trinity Western Spartans 2-1 and hand head coach Howie Draper his 400th career Canada West victory at Clare Drake Arena Friday evening.

Alberta leading scorer Madison Willan scored the game-winning goal four minutes into the third, while Kallie Clouston potted her second of the year just moments before. 

Alberta moves to 8-5-2 on the year, still two points shy of 4th place Saskatchewan, while the Spartans fall to 2-15-0.

The game marks the very first meeting between the two programs, with the Spartans in their opening year of their program.

For Draper, this win adds to his impressive resume as the Pandas head coach, a career 400-106-7 record. He is already the winningest coach in Canada West women's hockey history, and with this milestone win he enters unique company as only the third University of Alberta head coach to win 400 conference games.

The game was filled with special teams chances for both sides, with 11 penalties and 22 total PIM handed out throughout the game.

Trinity Western's Mabel Maltais had a strong game in net, stopping 29 of the 31 shots she faced.

It was a nondescript start to the game, with both goalies standing strong throughout the period. Alberta's Halle Oswald turned aside six Spartan shots, while Maltais stopped all eight that came her way. There was one powerplay opportunity for the Pandas, but was shut down by an effective Spartan penalty kill, one that is currently ranked last in the CW.

The Pandas quickly found their groove in the second period, peppering eight shots on Maltais in the first five minutes of the period. The Spartans did threaten to break the tie early, however, with a point blank shot in the crease put wide that certainly would have been a Trinity Western lead. 

Notably, the Pandas had nearly four straight minutes with a skater advantage, owing to two separate penalties committed by the Spartans including goalie interference. The Pandas were unable to get anything going, with Trinity Western's PK unit coming up huge again.

Maltais had a highlight-reel save nearing the end of the period, stopping Peyton Laumbach on a cross crease save, and then saving the follow up attempt from Natalie Kieser. 

The Pandas entered the third leading in shot differential 24-8, and had largely dominated possession of the puck. They were just unable to solve a solid game from Maltais to this point. However, that would change in an exciting third.

The Spartans handed the Pandas their best opportunity in the game so far early in the third, when they took two penalties within a minute of each other including a double-minor for a hit to the head. Alberta took full advantage of this 5-3 action, with Jadynn Morden finding Clouston on the far post to break the deadlock and go up 1-0. They remained on the two-skater advantage when a similar play unfolded, this time Alberta leading scorer Willan potted one to go up two, assisted by her linemates and fellow leading Panda scorers Laumbach and Kieser.

The Spartans would mount a response, and a Clouston tripping penalty provided an opportunity to break through. Spartans leading scorer Neisha Germann tee'd up a slapshot from the point that found its way through Oswalds pads and made it a one goal game.

Aside from the late powerplay goal conceded, the Pandas were strong on the defensive end in this game as they allowed only 12 shots on goal after the first period.

In total, the Pandas powerplay went 2/8 on the day, while the Spartans went 1/3 on their chances.

The Pandas and Spartans return to action tomorrow afternoon at 2 PM.