GUELPH, Ont. - A slow start would haunt the UOIT women's hockey team in a 4-1 loss to the No. 6 ranked Guelph Gryphons on the road Sunday afternoon.
 
Guelph scored three goals in the opening frame and added an empty netter to pick up their seventh win in eight games in January. UOIT has been heading in the other direction dropping seven of eight games in January where they have scored two goals or less in each contest.
 
UOIT's lone goal came in the second period when Grace Donaldson (St. Thomas, Ont.) blasted a slap shot past Aurore Beaulieu for her first career OUA goal. Sarah Biesenthal (Chepstow, Ont.) and Nicole Augello (Bolton, Ont.) added assists on the play.

 

Both teams came into the game after suffering shutout losses on Saturday.
 
After allowing the three first period goals, Celine Tessier (Chapleau, Ont.) settled down and kept the Ridgebacks within striking distance making a total of 26 saves. In her first season with UOIT, Tessier has a goals against average of 2.13 and save percentage of .934.
 
UOIT's power play struggles continued as they went 0-for-5, bringing their season average down to an 8.2 per cent conversion rate.
 
With four games remaining in the regular season, UOIT (6-12-2) must win out and need a lot of help if they have any shot of qualifying for the postseason for the first time since 2014.
 
Their next game will take place at home against the Waterloo Warriors on Friday, February 2. The following day, they will take on the Laurier Golden Hawks in their regular season home finale.
 
QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 6-19-2
Conference Record: 6-12-2
 
Next Game: Friday, Feb. 2 vs. Waterloo Warriors (7:30 p.m. – Campus Ice Centre)