W-HOCKEY ROUNDUP: Sluys gets 5th shutout as Waterloo beats Laurier for first time in 10 years
The No. 10 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks women’s hockey team were held scoreless by their crosstown rivals the Waterloo Warriors who won their fifth straight game, as they fell 2-0 Saturday night at the Waterloo Recreational Complex.
Friday, November 29
Waterloo 2 @ Laurier 0
The No. 10 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks women's hockey team were held scoreless by their crosstown rivals the Waterloo Warriors who won their fifth straight game, as they fell 2-0 Saturday night at the Waterloo Recreational Complex.
In a physical game that saw 30 penalty minutes and five powerplay chances for both teams, Laurier was unable to put one past Warriors' goaltender Stephanie Sluys of Clinton. Ont. The freshmen goaltender stopped all 28 shots Laurier fired at her. Sluys has only allowed one goal during Waterloo's five game winning streak.
The Golden Hawks' special teams had their up and downs. While the short-handed unit played very well, holding Waterloo's powerplay to zero goals on five opportunities, their powerplay did not do as well. Laurier could not find the back of the net on the five opportunities they had on the night.
Waterloo's defencemen Michelle Tanel of Toronto, was the difference maker in the game, assisting on both goals off the sticks of Amy Barnard of Cambridge, Ont., and Rachel Marriott of Waterloo, Ont.
Laurier Goaltender Amanda Smith of Burlington, Ont., had a very solid net between the pipes, making 24 of the possible 26 saves.
Laurier's record drops to 7-4-2 on the year and they now sit in a tie for sixth in the conference. The defeat snaps an unprecedented run of success by the Hawks over their crosstown rivals as the purple and gold had won 26 regular season games in a row against the Warriors. Laurier's last loss to Waterloo was a 2-1 overtime setback on December 4, 2004.
Toronto 2 @ York 1 (SO)
The York University Lions women's hockey team fell to the Toronto Varsity Blues 2-1 in a shootout on Saturday (Nov. 29) in a home game at Canlan Ice Sports.
In the shootout, both goalies – York's Megan Lee (Orillia, Ont.) and Toronto's Nicole Kesteris – saved the first two shots each. Finally, Rianna Langford (Collingwood, Ont.) curved the puck around Kesteris to give the Lions the advantage.
Julia Szulewska from the Blues side shot next and slipped the puck past Lee, leveling the score 1-1. After another York miss, the Blues' Jacqueline Scheffel charged Lee with the final shot and won the game for the Blues.
Scheffel played a phenomenal game, picking up loose pucks and charging the Lions' net.
Justine Treadwell (Huntsville, Ont.) also played a superb game, slithering between the Blues and creating many scoring opportunities for the Lions.
In the first period, Kristi Riseley from the Varsity Blues opened up the scoring at 4:06 with a smashing goal against Lee.
At 11:36, Kristen Barbara (Mount Hope, Ont.) squeezed the puck past Kesteris, leveling the score at 1-1.
In the second period there were more broken sticks conceived (two) than goals, but there were several great scoring opportunities from both sides.
With the start of the second, the Lions continuously hammered the puck at goalie Kesteris who made diving efforts to save eight shots. The Blues turned the tables near the end of the half and began pushing the puck through the Lions' defence to Lee who saved six shots.
In the third, Sarai Whitty (Kingston, Ont.) had a great scoring opportunity at 16:26 when she smacked the puck to the top left corner of the Blues net, but Kesteris caught the puck, stopping York's chance of winning the game.
At 17:18, Scheffel tested her luck with a powerful shot that Lee stopped with a splitting save. The third ended scoreless and put the game into overtime, which solved nothing.
Lee made a total of 20 saves, while Kesteris made a total of 24 saves.
The Lions are in eighth place in the OUA West standings with a record of 6-5-2, while the Blues currently sit sixth at 7-3-2.
Laurentian 3 @ Brock 1
The Brock Badgers women's hockey team (0-9-3 OUA) dropped a 3-1 decision to the Laurentian Voyageurs (2-8-3 OUA) on a day they honoured their past at the Seymour-Hannah Centre.
Todd Erskine, the Brock Women's Hockey founder and former OUA and CIS Coach of the Year, and longtime Assistant Coach Sandy Staniforth were both recognized in a pre-game ceremony as over 20 alumni also took in the contest.
Laurentian opened the scoring 13:37 into the opening stanza as Julie Hebert would score the first of her two goals on the afternoon.
The Voyageurs would take a 3-0 after 40 minutes of play as MacAuley Carr had the visitors other tally.
Just over a minute into the final stanza, Sophie Herbert would score her first goal of the season to cut Laurentian's lead to two goals, but that's all the Badgers could muster.
Brock enjoyed a 39-32 shot advantage, but went 0-for-5 on the powerplay. The Voyageurs were 1-for-1.
Laura Deller picked up the win in goal with a 38 save performance, while Brock rookie Stephanie Loukes suffered the loss collecting 29 saves.
Windsor 2 @ Queen's 3 (SO)
Fiona Lester(Peterborough, Ont.) deposited the game-winning goal in the fourth round of the shootout as the women's hockey team defeated the Windsor Lancers 3-2 Saturday afternoon at the Memorial Centre.
The Gaels opened the scoring in the first frame on a goal from Mary Coughlin (Amherstburg, Ont.). Kyla Crouse (Mount Brydges, Ont.) and Nadia Larocca (Mississauga, Ont.) were credited with the assists on Coughlin's third of the season. Queen's added another shortly after as Taryn Pilon (Peterborough, Ont.) buried her eighth of the year on the powerplay. Alisha Sealey (Elora, Ont.) collected the lone tally on the goal.
The Lancers eventually found the back of the net in the final period on a goal from Candace Kourounis. Windsor struck again in the final minute of regulation as Krystin Lawrence netted the equalizer with 17 seconds left to play.
The game was decided in the shootout as neither side could add the overtime winner. Pilon and Windsor's Jenny MacKnight each converted on their respective attempts, pushing the shootout to a fourth round. The Gaels earned the victory in the extra round as Lester deposited the game-winner on a nice deke move.
Final shots for the afternoon totalled 24 to 22 in favour of Queen's. Caitlyn Lahonen (Sharon, Ont.) started in net for the Gaels, earning the 20-save victory while Marissa Kozovski of the Lancers was charged with the 21-save loss.
Western 3 @ UOIT 1
In their first home game in over a month, the UOIT women's hockey team ran into the hottest club in the OUA as they took on the No. 4 ranked Western Mustangs. Despite a strong effort, the Ridgebacks fell short as the Mustangs prevailed 3-1.
Western has won 11 straight games and is 12-0-1 heading into their final game of 2014 against Queen's. UOIT is going in the other direction having dropped five straight decisions to fall to 5-7-1. UOIT will close out the 2014 portion of their schedule on Sunday against the Windsor Lancers (8-2-3).
Veteran goaltender Kelly Campbell had a big game for Western as she stopped 23 of 24 UOIT shots on goal. Campbell is 10-1 this season with a 0.98 goals against average and .960 save percentage.
Cassie Charette (Ottawa, Ont.) also had a strong outing in goal, holding the league's second ranked offence off the board for over half the game. Charette finished the night with 20 saves.
Brianna Iazzolino led the Mustang offence with the game's first and last goal. Western's Sydney Kidd scored the other as she doubled up the Mustang lead at 2:50 of the third period, recording her fourth of the year.
Sam Forchielli (Hamilton, Ont.) got UOIT on the board with a slap shot from the side of the net 19 seconds after Kidd's goal. Victoria MacKenzie (Toronto) would record the assist, as Forchielli got her second of the year. Forchielli is the first Ridgeback besides Chelsea Ball (Maple, Ont.) to score in the past five games.
UOIT's best chance to tie the game came midway through the third, when aMelissa Berney (Bowmanville, Ont.) point shot was tipped in front of the net, but Campbell stuck out her pad and managed to keep the Mustangs ahead.
Both penalty killing units did a good job as the teams combined to go 0-for-6 with the man advantage. UOIT ran into penalty trouble late in the game as they were called for two of their four penalties with under six minutes left.
UOIT's offence has struggled over the five-game skid as they have scored only four goals. The team is averaging only 1.77 goals per game this season.
Other Saturday Scores
Nipissing 1 @ Guelph 3
Sunday, November 30
Ryerson 0 @ York 5
The York University Lions women's hockey team routed the Ryerson Rams by a score of 5-0 on Sunday (Nov. 30) at Canlan Ice Sports. The Lions were efficient in their counter-attacks as three of the goals came from interceptions in their defensive half.
The Lions took an early lead at 2:28 through rookie forward Justine Treadwell (Huntsville, Ont.) after a successful counter-attack initiated by Sarah Conway (Orillia, Ont.). Treadwell beat goaltender Ally Sarna by firing to the top corner of the net.
Lisa Stathopulos (Toronto) almost scored the Lions' second two minutes after the restart, but her shot was stopped.
The first 10 minutes was played mostly in the Rams' defensive half as the Lions pressured the visitors. The Rams had their chances after a couple of two-on-one situations were snuffed out by Lions goaltender Megan Lee (Orillia, Ont.).
With less than eight minutes left in the first period, Rams' forward Clare Savine outpaced the Lions' defenders and took a sniper of a shot on target. The attempt deflected off the sidebar as the Lions struggled to keep possession in their court.
The Lions led 1-0 after one period.
The home team put on an outstanding display in the second frame. Sarai Whitty (Kingston, Ont.) doubled the hosts' lead after 2:25 minutes of play. Whitty drove forward and took a powerful shot past the goalie.
Three minutes later, Lee's goaltending abilities were tested as the Rams emerged forward and took an open shot straight at the veteran goalie, but she was up to the task and made the save.
Nine minutes in, the Lions became more menacing offensively. Stathopulos successfully skated past three defenders before seeing her shot deflected. Rianna Langford (Collingwood, Ont.) linked up well with Amy Locke (Toronto) at half-ice. Locke found Stathopulos in the centre, who then took a shot and scored the Lions' third at 10:32.
Stathopulos bagged her second of the game as the Lions counter-attacked clinically. Locke intercepted the Rams' play and laid the puck off for Stathopulos to finish at 14:22.
The Lions eased the offensive pressure in the final period. However, Stathopulos had a chance to mark her hat-trick as the Rams' players scrambled to clear the danger.
At 12:29, Whitty took an off-target shot on the left flank. A wicked deflection off Sarna's legs diverted the puck into the net for the Lions' fifth of the evening.
The Lions cap off the fall term with an improved record of 7-5-2, already more wins than they had in all of last season.
Nipissing 3 @ Brock 5
Jessica Fickel became the all-time Brock Badgers women's hockey points leader Sunday afternoon at the Seymour-Hannah Centre.
The fifth year forward and Fort Erie, Ontario native had two goals and one assist to give her 113 points (114 GP, 51G, 62A, 113 pts) eclipsing both Kate Allgood and Kelly Walker's 112 points in a 5-3 Badgers (1-9-3 OUA) victory over the Nipissing Lakers (7-6-1 OUA).
Fickel had a goal and a helper in the first period then set the record at the 19:01 mark of the third period scoring into an empty-net.
Fickel's three points on the afternoon give her five goals and 13 points in 13 games this season.
Laura Neu also had two goals and one assist in Brock's win. Christina Ieradihad the other Badgers goal, while Stephanie Loukes picked up the victory in goal making 28 saves.
Brittany Crago, Bronwyn Bolduc and Taylor Murphy replied for the Lakers who actually outshot Brock 31-22. Sabrina Picard suffered the loss in net.
Western 1 @ Queen's 2 (OT)
Gaels Captain Shawna Griffin (Redwood Meadows, Alta.) buried the overtime winner as the No.6 women's hockey team edged the No.4 Western Mustangs 2-1 Sunday afternoon at the Memorial Centre.
The Gaels opened the scoring as Micaela Smith (Cobourg, Ont.) netted her first goal of the season just over one minute into the game. Taryn Pilon (Peterborough, Ont.) and Addi Halladay (North Augusta, Ont.) were credited with the assists. The Mustangs found the scoresheet in the second period on a powerplay tally from Kendra Broad. Overtime was required as neither side could add the go-ahead goal during regulation.
Griffin deposited the game-winner with her fourth of the season on a unassisted effort. Coming in from the halfboards, Griffin made a nice deke going to her backhand and sliding the puck past Campbell to seal the victory.
Final shots for the game totalled 37-28 in favour of Queen's. Goaltender Caitlyn Lahonen (Sharon, Ont.) started in net for the Gaels, earning the 27 save victory while Western's Kelly Campbell suffered the 35 save loss.
Windsor 2 @ UOIT 1
UOIT's losing streak reached six games as they dropped a 2-1 decision to the Windsor Lancers Sunday at the Campus Ice Centre.
For the second consecutive night, the Ridgebacks played well but could not find the scoring touch as they were only able to beat Windsor goaltender Marissa Kozovski once.
Tied 1-1 midway through the third period, fifth year senior Candace Kourounis found herself unmarked in front of the net and was able to slip one past Tori Campbell (Saskatoon, Sask.) for the game-winning goal.
With seven minutes to go, UOIT's Sam Forchielli (Hamilton, Ont.) had a breakaway opportunity to level the score. The Ridgeback winger was able to beat Kozovski, but the puck ended up deflecting just going over the net as the Lancers remained in front.
Freshman Mariah Wilson of Cobourg scored the Ridgebacks lone goal early in the second period, her second of the year. Sarah Biesenthal (Chepstow, Ont.) earned an assist, recording her first OUA point on the play.
Campbell ended up making 22 saves for UOIT, as she finishes the semester with a record of 3-4-1 with a 2.96 goals against average.
Despite finishing 2014 with six straight losses, UOIT (5-8-1) is still in good position to make a run at the playoffs as they sit only four points behind the eighth place Nipissing Lakers (7-6-1) and Waterloo Warriors (6-5-3).
If the Ridgebacks hope to advance to the postseason for the third straight year, their power play must improve as they are running at a league low 7.7 per cent.
Toronto 2 @ Laurier 1 (SO)
The No. 10 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks women's hockey team suffered their second straight loss on Sunday night as they dropped a 2-1 shootout decision to the Toronto Varsity Blues at the Waterloo Recreation Complex.
Laurier received an outstanding effort between the pipes from Amanda Smith of Burlington, Ont., in the defeat. The Hawks second year goal made 32 saves through regulation and overtime but the purple and gold could not find a way to pull out the win for their netminder.
Although it was a lower scoring affair, the way the first 10 minutes played out it appeared that both teams would fill the net all night. Just 17 seconds into the game, Arden Cowley of Edmonton, opened the scoring when she deflected a point shot past Smith to give Toronto a 1-0 edge.
However, Laurier was quick to respond as just past the seven-minute mark, Jessie Hurrell of Palgrave, Ont., finished off a great feed from Tammy Freiburger of Wingham, Ont., to even the game at one.
From that point forward though it was a goaltending duel, with most of the action being in Laurier's end of the ice. Toronto peppered Smith through the remainder of the first and second periods with 27 shots to just nine for Laurier but Smith kept the score even at one.
In the third period, Laurier seemed to find their legs as the outshot the Blues 8-5 but could not find the go-ahead marker.
After the two teams were deadlocked at one through 65 minutes of play, Laurier headed to their fourth shootout of the year. Owning a 2-1 record in their previous three shootouts, the Hawks could not find a way past Toronto netminder Nicole Kesteris of Aurora, Ont., with their first three attempts. On the Blues final attempt, Jacqueline Scheffel of Waubaushene, Ont., beat Smith with a backhand move to give the visitors the victory.
With the win, Toronto improve to 8-3-2 on the season, fifth overall in the OUA. Meanwhile, the Hawks drop to 7-4-3 and fall to sixth in the standings.
Other Sunday Scores
Nipissing 1 @ Guelph 3