OUA Women's Hockey Roundup (Jan. 22)
January 17, 2018
Toronto 3 Guelph 4
GUELPH – The Guelph Gryphons women's hockey team and their counterpart Toronto Varsity Blues aren't too fond of each other. That was clear in the thrilling back end of a chippy home-and-home between the two OUA programs. The No.7-ranked Gryphons got two goals from Claire Merrick and a sensational overtime winner from Miranda Lantz to beat the Varsity Blues 4-3 and extend their streak to seven straight victories.
It was the Guelph's second win over Toronto in a five-day span and second consecutive overtime win on home ice. The Gryphons (13-4-0) blanked the Blues (8-7-2) 3-0 last Saturday on the road, though Wednesday's game needed some late magic to decide it.
The hosts responded after conceding an improbable equalizer right before the third period ended to dominate the five-minute overtime. Toronto almost won it late but Valerie Lamenta came up with a huge pad save that gave the Gryphons possession. Ashlee Lawrence sprung Lantz for a breakaway and the Mildmay, ON native raced in, went backhand and roofed a shot over Valencia Yordanov with just 11 seconds left on the clock.
"This was a learning experience for us," said head coach Rachel Flanagan, who noted the three mistakes her team made all ended up in the back of the net. "We're happy with the overtime win but we felt like we gave away a point.
"It was a great goal by Lantz. She's really coming into her own with our program and it's nice to see."
The Gryphons looked like they had it wrapped up leading 3-2 late but with the Toronto net empty, Kassie Roache was left uncovered in front and deked Lamenta with one second remaining in regulation. The referees gathered to discuss it but the goal was deemed good, sending the 3-3 contest to overtime.
Merrick, known as a pass-first forward, carried the load offensively. She opened the scoring minutes into the first period and notched her second of the game early in the third. Merrick took the puck towards the net to the left of Yordanov, made a quick hesitation move, and then buried a low shot stick side for a 3-2 lead.
The goals were the third and fourth of the season for the third-year Oakville, ON native, who now has 17 points. Merrick had a great chance at the hat-trick but she was denied by Yordanov on a five-hole attempt in close just 43 seconds before Roache's eventual equalizer.
"We basically threatened Claire last game and said that if she didn't shoot the puck more on the power play, we would take her off the ice. It's a bit of a running joke here."
Molly Crossman also scored for Guelph, while Lamenta made 24 saves.
It was a heated game and the Gryphons got some extra special teams work in a feisty second period. Minutes after killing off a hooking penalty, Guelph was whistled for body checking when Kaitlin Lowydropped Stephanie Ayres after the Varsity Blues' forward had upended Katherine Bailey near the boards. But Toronto took a too-many-men minor on the same play, negating a chance to go back on the power play. The Varsity Blues were called for head contact just over two minutes later, though the hosts couldn't cash in on their chance.
Guelph finished the night 0-for-5 on the power play. Lowy, who was also called for cross checking in the first period, leads the team in both goals (an OUA-best 12) and penalty minutes (20).
The two teams went back and forth in an exciting opening period. The Gryphons started strong and took a quick 1-0 lead just 3:04 into the game when Merrick roofed a shot after taking a beautiful backhand pass from Kelly Gribbons. But Toronto answered minutes later after Eyres tipped a point shot past Lamenta to tie the game 1-1.
Guelph retook the lead at the 9:31 mark. Kristen Jay gathered the puck behind the Varsity Blues' net and sent another backhand feed to the low slot, where Crossman one-timed a shot past Yordanov. The Gryphons didn't hang on to the lead for too long, though. Toronto struck again later in the first as Mathilde De Serres shed a Guelph defender and redirected a Julia Szulewska pass from the left wing.
The two goals allowed in the first period had to be surprising for the Gryphons, who entered the night leading the OUA with just 22 against in 16 games played.
Flanagan has had no issues with her team's effort. They have improved dramatically after a tough start to the season, and are forging an identity that differs from the two previous McCaw Cup-winning rosters. But she is clear that she would like to see some of the mental lapses eliminated, including weak entries into the opposition's zone.
"Consistency is a struggle," the coach said. "We have really great games and then average games where we're lucky to come away with a win. But the players are working hard."
Source: gryphons.ca
January 19, 2018
Windsor 3 UOIT 2
On their second road trip of 2018, the Lancer women's hockey team headed up north and came home with both a win and a loss. Windsor defeated the UOIT Ridgebacks 3-2 on Friday night before falling to the No. 8 Queen's Gaels 8-1 on Saturday afternoon in Kingston.
The Ridgebacks were the first team to score when UOIT's Alex Frigon beat Morgan Farrow off assists from Mia Rogers and Mariah Wilson almost midway through the first period. Later, with less than four to go in the first, Lancer Larissa Borowiec capitalized on a power play opportunity with some help from Sydney Dobbin. The game continued its back and forth trend as the Ridegbacks found twine next. This time it was UOIT's turn to capitalize on a player advantage as Chelsea Ball scored on a power play chance midway through the second to put the Ridgebacks up 2-1.
The Lancers proceeded to fight back quick with Jasmine Morning tying the game on a tip from Lexi Contratto. The rest of the second was a defensive battle as neither team could afford a mistake in such a tight contest.
The Lancers, who had come back twice in the game, were rewarded for their fight late in the third when Teah Burke put the Blue and Gold up with under five minutes to in the game. The Lancers held on to win their first game of 2018 in a thriller, 3-2.
Windsor goaltender Morgan Farrow made 22 saves on 24 shots in the winning effort. The Ridgebacks' Celine Tessier made an impressive 26 saves on 29 shots.
Both teams had identical special teams production, with each accounting for a goal on four power plays.
The Lancers Olivia Lynch picked up two assists while UOIT's Kassidy Nauboris, Mariah Wilson and Mia Rogers each pitched in an assist.
Source: golancers.ca
January 20, 2018
Waterloo 6 Brock 2
The Warriors doubled their 2018 offensive output in just one game on Saturday, scoring six goals to skate past the Brock Badgers 6-2. In their previous three games, Waterloo had just found the net three times.
Six different Warriors scored including a pair of first career goals for Emma Pye (Oshawa/) and Jenna Hewitt-Kenda (North Vancouver/) as the black and gold improved to 9-6-0 and sit in ninth with 25 points but have two games on hand in those above them in the standings. With the loss Brock fell to 11-5-2 and sit in fifth.
Sarah Rettinger (Kitchener/) scored the games opening goal, her second of the season assisted by Amy Barnard (Cambridge/) and Maryn Caragata(Etobicoke/).
Brock found the net twice before the first period expired to take a 2-1 lead into the second period.
That is when Waterloo's offence would wake up with Pye getting things going on the power play at 7:29 of the second. Her first career goal was set up by Stephanie Digness (Aldergrove/) and Caragata.
Just one minute later Cynthia Cavanagh (Scarborough/) netted her third of the season with Pye and Hewitt-Kenda earning the helpers.
Up 3-2 going into the final frame, Hewitt-Kenda got her second point of the game and first career goal with Pye and Cavanagh picking up helpers just 17 seconds into the period.
Alison Hanson (Toronto/) got in on the action with her fourth of the season while Caragata netted an empty netter as Waterloo scored four unanswered to sink Brock 6-2.
Pye finished with four points (1G, 3A) in the game while Caragata had three (1G, 2A) and was named the player of the game.
Waterloo outshot the Badgers 46-23 with Stephanie Sluys (Clinton/) earning the win making 21 saves.
Source: athletics.uwaterloo.ca
Windsor 1 Queen’s 8
KINGSTON, Ont. (January 20, 2018) – The No. 8 Queen's Gaels (10-3-1-3) absolutely dominated the Windsor Lancers (2-1-14-2) on Saturday afternoon. Queen's used a balanced effort that saw six different players find the back of the net to take the easy victory against the Lancers.
Katrina Manoukarakis (Scarborough, Ont.) and Emily Gervais(Kamloops, B.C.) both scored twice to lead the Gaels.
GAME FLOW
Queen's came out with their highest scoring period of the season to start this game, striking early and often. Gaels leading goal scorer Manoukarakis started the scoring when she buried a rebound for her 11th goal of the season at 3:18. The Gaels would proceed to rattle off four more goals in a three-minute span starting at 12:32 of the period when Gervais scored her second goal of the season after a beautiful rush from Jessica Wakefield (Lucan, Ont.). Devon Greenough (Arnprior, Ont.), Clare McKellar(London, Ont.) and Manoukarakis would round out the scoring in the period as Queen's would head to the second period with a commanding 5-0 lead.
The second period saw the Gaels extend their lead early when Gervais scored her second goal of the game at 6:07 of the frame. The Lancers would finally get a goal of their own at 12:47 when, after a mad scramble in front of Stephanie Pascal (Sudbury, Ont.), the puck found its way into the net. Hailey Wilson (Pickering, Ont.) would round out the scoring for the period when she notched her seventh of the season at 15:28, giving the Gaels a 7-1 advantage after forty minutes.
Bridgid Goris (Thorndale, Ont.) would extend the Gaels lead to 8-1 at 9:34 of the third period with her first career U SPORTS goal. The Lancers would be put out of their misery, as that was all the scoring on the day. Gaels backup goaltender Claire Warren (Halifax) would enter the game in the third period in relief of Pascal and stopped all nine shots she faced.
Pascal picked up the win in net, playing only two periods, recording 11 saves, while Molly Jenkins took the loss in net for the Lancers.
Source: gogaelsgo.com
Western 0 UOIT 2
OSHAWA, Ont. – After an unfortunate fate on Friday night the UOIT women's hockey team got some redemption on Saturday afternoon as they upset the third-place Western Mustangs 2-0.
Briar Hughes (Thornton, Ont.) was key in the victory as she earned her third career shutout, turning aside 25 Mustang shots.
The U SPORTS championship host Mustangs had a dominant opening five minutes and led 8-7 in shots after the opening period, but as the Ridgebacks settled into the game the teams were knotted 0-0.
Chelsea Ball (Maple, Ont.), who leads the team in goal scoring, cycled the puck deep in the Mustang zone and traded spots with captain Mikaeli Cavell (Edmonton, Alta.) and one-timed the return pass in the top right corner over Tareya Webster for her sixth of the season. UOIT held their one-goal lead after 40 minutes.
Alex Frigon (Dartmouth, N.S.), who scored the Ridgebacks lone goal on Friday, assisted on Mariah Wilson's (Cobourg, Ont.) goal with 5:07 to go in the game to ice the game.
The Mustangs pulled Webster with 2:32 and maintained the majority of the possession as the clock ticked down, but neither team scored as it ended 2-0. Webster made 21 saves in the loss.
UOIT now heads on the road next week to take on the York Lions and Guelph Gryphons. They are eight points out of a playoff spot with six conference games remaining.
Source: uoitridgebacks.com
Toronto 3 Ryerson 0
Rookie netminder Madeline Albert made 29 saves to earn her fourth shutout of the season as the University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's hockey team defeated the Ryerson Rams 3-0 on Saturday night at Mattamy Athletic Centre.
With the win, the Blues improve to 9-0-7-2 and moves into sixth place in the highly competitive OUA standings. The Rams drop to 5-5-5-2 and sit seventh.
Toronto opened the scoring on the powerplay midway through the first period as Mathilde De Serres picked up a loose puck in front of the net and wired it over the glove of Rams netminder Rachel Seeley.
The Blues converted on their next powerplay opportunity as well as Jessica Robichaud tipped in a Julia Szulewska point shot under two minutes later.
U of T took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
A scoreless second period saw Albert make 11 saves, as Toronto took the two-goal lead into the final frame.
The Blues killed some key penalties down the stretch and Lauren Straatman added an empty-net goal with two seconds remaining to round out the win.
Source: varsityblues.ca
York 1 Nipissing 3
The Nipissing Lakers women's hockey team look like they're heating up at the right time of the year.
Entering the game Saturday night, the Lakers were on a 3-0-1 clip in 2018 and are 4-1-1 in their past six game, as they sprint towards the post-season in the final month and a half of the regular season.
Saturday's 3-1 win over the York Lions gives them five wins in their past seven games and four of five in 2018.
The teams went back and forth in the first period and despite combining for 21 shots, but neither team was able to find the back of the net and the first 20 ended with the score 0-0.
Nipissing led York in shots to the tune of 13-8.
After a quick period, with the teams trading, the middle frame saw more of the same.
Both teams generated chances, with the Lakers once again outshooting York and earning the majority of the quality shots.
Finally the Lakers broke through, as Zosia Davis fired one home from the point, giving Nipissing the lead.
Bronwyn Bolduc earned an assist on the game's opening goal.
York tied things up, however, about three minutes later.
An entertaining 40 minutes wrapped up with each team scoring once in the second period and the Lakers and Lions headed back to the dressing room tied at one.
The shots after two periods of play were 21-15 Nipissing.
With the teams tied entering the third period and valuable points on the line, the Lakers and Lions started strong.
It took almost 14 minutes of the third period, but the Lakers managed to regain the lead.
Hunter Mosher made a gorgeous deke after moving in all alone to put Nipissing up 2-1.
Maria Dominico and Bolduc with her second of the night, grabbed assists on the goal.
The Lakers sealed the win with a shorthanded empty-netter. Jetta Derenoski scores thanks to great hustle and great work by Robyn Degagne in her own zone.
Jackie Rochefort was great in net for the Lakers and finished with 20 saves. Final shots favoured Nipissing 27-21
Source: nulakers.ca
January 21, 2018
York 0 Laurentian 2
On Sunday afternoon, the Voyageurs women's hockey team extended their winning streak to six games after Shanna Dolighan shutout the visiting York Lions, 2-0.
The Voyageurs scored the game's first goal in the latter half of the first period when Morgan McCannbanged in a rebound at 16:01 on the power play, with assists going to Ellery Veerman and Brooklyn Davis, giving the Voyageurs a momentous launch into the second period. McCann's goal was the only goal of the period as the Vees outshot the Lions 9-7.
The second period was relatively uneventful as neither team was able to score and the shots were tied at eight a piece. Both teams also had a power play opportunity but could not convert.
McCann would connect for her second goal of the afternoon at 11:15 of the third period after Myla McCormick and Nicole Vigilanti set up the play. McCann's second goal would be all the Vees needed as Dolighan shut the door stopping 10 shots in the final period.
With the Vees sixth straight win, they now sit tied for seventh in the conference and just 10 points out of first place.
Source: luvoyageurs.com
Ryerson 4 Brock 3
ST. CATHARINES, Ont. - After giving up three points against Toronto at home yesterday, the Ryerson Rams managed to salvage a win in a difficult matchup against the No.10 nationally ranked Brock Badgers, winning by a final score of 4-3.
Ryerson captain Ailish Forfar (Sharon, Ont.) would score the first of three strange goals for the Rams, each coming off a lucky bounce. Forfar threw the puck on net looking for an open forward, but an odd deflection off Brock goaltender Jensen Murphy (Kingston, Ont.) put the Rams up 1-0 early in the first period. Later in the game, Rams forward Brooklyn Gemmill (Brampton, Ont.) would score a goal on the exact same play.
Just 20 seconds after Forfar’s goal, Badgers forward Maggie Spratt-Mallick (Caledonia, Ont.) would put the puck past Rachel Seeley (Ottawa, Ont.) to tie the game at one heading into the first intermission.
Kryshanda Green tallied Ryerson’s only goal of the second period, burying the puck in an open net off a scramble in front. Five minutes later, Brock capitalized on a rebound to tie the game up once again.
Gemmill would tally her copycat Forfar goal at 6:52 the third period, reclaiming the lead for Ryerson. In the last of the bad bounces for Brock, Ryerson’s Alyssa Connolly (Mount Albert, Ont.) would dump the puck into the offensive zone on a line change. A strange skip past Murphy would lead to Ryerson’s fourth goal of the game.
The Badgers added another goal midway through the period, but a late-game spark wasn’t enough for Brock in this matchup. Ryerson would finish the game with a 4-3 regulation victory over the Badgers, capturing three crucial points moving forward in the tight playoff race.
The Rams power play was not active tonight, going 0/3 on the matchup. The team excelled at even-strength and managed to contain the Brock man-advantage play, further ensuring victory for Ryerson.
Source: ryersonrams.ca
Western 3 Queen’s 0
KINGSTON, Ont. – Carmen Lasis earned the second shutout of her OUA career on Sunday, stopping 25 shots to help lead the Western Mustangs to a 3-0 win over the U SPORTS No. 8 Queen's Gaels at the Memorial Centre Arena.
The win gives Western a 10-2-5-2 record and puts the team into a tie with the Guelph Gryphons for second place in the OUA standings. Queen's remains in first place despite the loss, as they hold a three point lead over the Gryphons and Mustangs with a 10-3-2-3 record.
Lasis' shutout is her second of the year following an 18-save performance against the Waterloo Warriors back on January 4, and gives the first-year netminder eight wins this season.
Three different Mustangs scored in the victory, with Emma Pearson, Brianna Rice, and Evra Levesque all recording their names on the scoresheet.
Pearson opened the scoring on Sunday, tallying her second goal of the season with a power play marker a little more than eight minutes into the first period.
Western didn't wait long before extending that lead to 2-0 off of a goal from Rice just over four minutes later.
Neither team was able to solve the other in the second period, with Western holding a 10-6 edge in shots.
The Gaels pressed to tie the game up in the final 20 minutes, outshooting the Mustangs 9-3, however Western kept the Gaels off the board and Levesque cemented the 3-0 win with an empty net goal with just under 90 second remaining in the contest.
Source: westernmustangs.ca
Laurier 1 Waterloo 2
Angela MacDonald (Kitchener/) scored the tying goal in regulation and added the shootout winner as the Warriors took out their cross-town rivals Laurier 2-1 in a shootout on Sunday at the CIF. It was the second time this year Waterloo beat the Hawks by a score of 2-1, the first coming back on October 28 in regulation.
Waterloo improved to 10-6-0 with the win while Laurier dropped to 2-11-3.
MacDonald's goal came at the 10:30 mark of the middle period just two minutes after Laurier opened the scoring. Emma Pye (Oshawa/) and Brooklyn Sarnovsky (Courtice/) earned the helpers on the equalizer.
After neither team could score in the third and overtime periods, Samantha Burbridge (Brantford/) and MacDonald netted shootout goals to secure an extra point for their squad.
Taylor Reimer (Morden/) was solid between the piped, stopping 26 of 27 shots faced. At the other end Hannah Miller was also stellar allowing just one past her on 37 shots.
Source: athletics.uwaterloo.ca