Mustangs shut out Gryphons in game one of the OUA semifinals

GUELPH, Ont. – Megan Taylor provided the game's only goal and Carmen Lasis turned aside all 23 shots she faced to lift the Western Mustangs to a 1-0 win over the Guelph Gryphons in the first game of their OUA Semfinal series on Wednesday night at the Gryphon Centre.
 
The win gives Western a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three series and puts the purple and white within one game of the McCaw Cup Final.
 
Taylor's goal was the only one of the contest and served as her first of the post-season.
 
Lasis' 23 saves gave the netminder her third win in only her third playoff contest and her first career OUA playoff shutout. Valerie Lamenta made 18 saves for the Gryphons in the loss.
 
The first 20 minutes passed without a goal, and although the Gryphons slightly outshot the Mustangs 8-7, Western generated a number of scoring opportunities but Lamenta prevented any of them from hitting the back of the net
 
Much like the first period, the game's second frame was also scoreless, with the game remaining deadlocked until early in the third period.
 
Taylor netted the only goal of the night just under two minutes into the third, converting assists from Evra Levesque and Ali Beres to put the Mustangs in front.
 
The Gryphons continued to push to tie the game, controlling the play over the final 10 minutes as they looked to force overtime. Unfortunately for the home side, the Mustangs defence blocked a number of shots and Lasis stopped any that made their way towards the net to send Western away with a 1-0 win.
 
Game two of the OUA Semifinals is set for Friday night at Thompson Arena, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. A Mustangs win will send Western to the McCaw Cup Final, while a Gryphons victory will set up game three on Sunday afternoon. Fans can tune in to all of Friday's  action live on OUA.tv and Radio Western 94.9 FM

Source: Western Mustangs