Mustangs force Game 3 with over overtime victory vs Waterloo

LONDON, Ont. – Two goals from April Clark helped lead the Western Mustangs to a 2-1 overtime victory over the Waterloo Warriors on Friday night at Thompson Arena in game two of their OUA Quarterfinal series.

The series will shift back to the CIF Arena, where Waterloo prevailed 3-2 in game one of the series, for a winner-take-all game three on Sunday, February 28.

Clark's two goals were the final two of the contest, as she tied the game on a power play marker with only 37 seconds left in the third, before clinching it with a shorthanded goal at 11:37 of overtime. The second-year forward now has three goals in two games, after scoring the Mustangs first goal in game one of the series on Thursday night.

Only one penalty was called in the entirety of the first matchup of this series with Waterloo failing to convert on their only power play opportunity. Special teams became more important in game two; Western and Waterloo exchanged five total power play opportunities in the first period alone. Despite not being able to find the back of the net against goaltender Stephanie Sluys, the Mustangs regained their shooting form, nearly doubling up the Warriors in that department in the opening frame.

Sluys earned the start in net for the Warriors following her 39 save performance in game one. Opposite to her was freshman Shelby Ryan, who won three of Western's games during their season-closing six game winning streak.

"My stomach dropped," Ryan said about her reaction to finding out she was starting in this elimination game, "they put this game and their faith in a rookie goaltender, [I told myself] I've got to step up." Ryan indeed stepped up, making several saves through screens on the various penalty kills Western faced and keeping her team in the game, ending the night with 32 saves.

Much like in game one, the ice opened up in the second period with less penalties taking place and more shots being directed at the net.

The teams headed into the final period tied, as they did the day prior, but with no goals being scored by either team. It took until over halfway through the third frame for a goal to be decided when forward Samantha Burbridge scored her first goal of the season, tipping a point shot passt Ryan.

The Mustangs pressed for the equalizing goal to avoid elimination, earning a power play in the last three minutes with the net empty. Towards the end of the penalty and with just over 30 seconds left in the game, Clark tipped a shot by Anthea Lasis past Sluys to score the goal that forced overtime.

"We just worked hard as a team," Clark said about her team's resilience and ability to come from behind in the dying seconds, "we knew we could come back and we kept it simple."

Their resilience would carry over into the extra frame where they faced four consecutive penalty kills with their season on the line.

"Our girls do a really good job of staying in the game, and not being distracted by factors they can't control." said Mustangs head coach Kelly Paton on the mental toughness of her team and the ability to stay focused on several penalty kills,

The fourth penalty kill did not last long as Clark found room to skate with the puck and fired a perfect shot off the crossbar and into the net to win the game and send the series into a third and deciding matchup.

Game three will be in Waterloo with puck drop at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday with the winner advancing to the semi-finals of the McCaw Cup playoffs. Fans can tune into all the action live on OUA.tv and on CHRW Radio 94.9 FM.

Source: Western Mustangs