TORONTO, Ont. - The UOIT Ridgebacks women's hockey team dropped their third game in a row since returning from the OUA's winter break, falling 4-0 to the Ryerson Rams on Saturday afternoon in Toronto.
The recent slide pushed UOIT further back in the playoff race as they now rank ninth in the OUA with a 6-9-0-1 (W-L-OTW-OTL) record.
The Ridgebacks were undone by penalties, handing the Rams seven power play opportunities of which they converted twice. The struggle with special teams was in contrast to their season totals, which prior to the start of the game saw them ranked fourth in the province in power play goals allowed (5) and penalty kill percentage (88.6%). Following the outing versus the Rams, UOIT dropped out of the top five in both categories.
A highlight for the Ridgebacks in the tough road loss was the play of third-year goaltender
Briar Hughes (Thornton, Ont.) who made a number of impressive saves throughout the afternoon as UOIT was outshot 35-7. Hughes stood on her head in the first period in particular, holding the Rams scoreless while facing 15 shots on net in the 20 minute frame.
UOIT returns home to the Campus Ice Centre next weekend where they will look to turn things around against the visiting Western Mustangs and Windsor Lancers. Puck drop for both their on Saturday, Jan. 19 contest versus the Mustangs and Sunday, Jan. 20 game against the Lancers is set for 3:30 p.m. The Sunday match is also part of the Ridgebacks Bell Let's Talk doubleheader in support of the nation wide initiative in support of mental health.
• Madison Lalonde opened the scoring for the Rams midway through the second period, finishing off a pass through the blue crease in front of the Ridgebacks net.
• Lauren Nicholson and Eika Crouse each picked up power play markers for Ryerson with Nicholson's coming late in the second period and Crouse scoring midway through the third.
• Crouse tipped in her second of the game at 14:42 of the third period to round out the scoring for the afternoon.
• Despite allowing four goals in the loss, Hughes was spectacular in net for the Ridgebacks making 31 saves. This marked her second consecutive 30-plus save performance and fifth in total for the season.
• Facing just seven shots on net, Natalie Thompson earned the shutout win for the Rams.
Overall Record: 8-10-1-1 (W-L-OTW-OTL)
Conference Record: 6-9-0-1
Next game: Saturday, Jan. 19 vs. Western Mustangs • 3:30 p.m. – Campus Ice Centre
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