OSHAWA, Ont. – In their first meeting with the Queen's Gaels this season, the UOIT Ridgebacks women's hockey team was unable to come back from three unanswered goals, eventually falling 3-1 in the Saturday afternoon tilt.
The Gaels came into the game sitting third in the OUA and ranked No. 10 in the country, posing a tough matchup for the home team. The Ridgebacks defence was able to keep the high-powered Gaels off the scoreboard through two periods of action, when in the final frame the Gaels scored just 53 seconds into the third period switching the momentum in their favour.
Despite a late goal by
Chelsea Ball (Maple, Ont.) the Ridgebacks could not get their offence going to complete the late comeback.
"We had the opportunities to put the puck in the back of the net but we just couldn't capitalize" said head coach
Justin Caruana. "We will continue to work on our finishing and no doubt will come back stronger as the season goes on."
The Ridgebacks will next welcome the Toronto Varsity Blues to the Campus Ice Centre for a morning contest on Friday, Nov. 9. The 11:30 a.m. puck drop is scheduled to allow local elementary school children from across the Durham Region to attend the Dog Pound for the women's hockey showcase. All the action will also be streamed live on OUA.tv.
• Quinn Johnston, a first-year Gaels forward, struck first for Queen's just 53 seconds into the final frame when she buried a loose puck in front of the UOIT net.
• Another first-year forward, Nicole Posesorski, scored for Queen's when she rifled off a shot from the blueline that snuck past a screened Ridgeback goaltender.
• Fifth-year veteran Katrina Manoukarakis sealed the deal for the Gaels when she scored their third goal late in the final frame.
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Chelsea Ball (Maple, Ont.) was the lone goal scorer for the Ridgebacks, getting her second of the year after she dangled her way to the net and roofed the puck past the Gaels netminder.
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Briar Hughes (Thornton, Ont.) got the start for the Ridgebacks facing a total of 42 shots and stopping 39.
• Makenzy Arsenault was the starter for Queen's and with a total of 27 saves she earned herself the win.
Overall Record:4-1-5-1 (W-OTW-L-OTL)
Conference Record: 2-0-4-1
Next game: Friday, Nov. 9 vs. Toronto Varsity Blues • 11:30 a.m. – Campus Ice Centre
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