OSHAWA, Ont. – The UOIT Ridgebacks women's hockey team hosted the Nipissing Lakers in their home opener Friday night, falling 2-1 in an overtime thriller.

Despite an outstanding performance from veteran goaltender Briar Hughes (Thornton, Ont.), who made numerous key stops including back-to-back sliding toe saves in the second period, the Ridgebacks were unable to find an overtime winner.
 
The Lakers struck early in the first period, scoring on a power play just halfway into the frame. Although the Ridgebacks were able to answer with a power play goal of their own near the end of the first. A scoreless second and third period forced the game into overtime where it took the Lakers just over two minutes to end the game.

The Ridgebacks are right back at it tomorrow afternoon as they face off with the Laurentian Voyageurs at the Campus Ice Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. with all the action also being streamed on OUA.tv.
   

LIGHT THE LAMP

• Lakers forward Jade Gauthier opened the scoring on a power play at the 9:59 mark when she netted a one-timer from her linemate Ava Keis. Gauthier has now scored in back-to-back season opening games for the Lakers.
• First-year Ridgebacks forward Erin Ross (Lucan, Ont.) had an answer when UOIT headed to a power play, deflecting a shot from the point made by linemate Nicole Zabel (Palmerston, Ont.). This marked Ross' first OUA goal.
• Just 2:24 in to overtime play, Lakers second-year forward Kaley Tienhaara banked in a rebound which gave the Lakers the win.
 

BETWEEN THE PIPES

• Briar Hughes (Thornton, Ont.) made an impressive 44 saves in her 25th career OUA game. The 44 stops is just three shy of her career high of 47 set in her rookie campaign, a 4-3 win over Ryerson on Nov. 26, 2016.
• In net for the Lakers was second-year Danika Ranger, who made a total of 26 saves. Ranger was playing in her 12^th OUA game and tonight marked her eighth regular season win as a Laker.
 

RIDGEBACKS AT A GLANCE

Overall Record: 2-1-1-1 (W-OTW-L-OTL)
Conference Record: 0-0-0-1

Next game: Saturday, Oct. 13 vs. Laurentian Voyageurs • 3:30 p.m. – Campus Ice Centre

For all your Ridgebacks updates make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @uoitridgebacks.