TORONTO - A big win on Mattamy Home Ice would have been the perfect send off for the five graduating players from the Ryerson Rams women's hockey program. Dollee Meigs of the Laurier Golden Hawks had different plans though.
BOXSCORE
The third year forward ripped a shot past the glove of Ryerson's goaltender Alex Armstrong and into the top of the net 1:01 into the first overtime period. Meigs' fifth goal of the season clinched a 2-1 victory for the Golden Hawks.
The win, paired with a 3-2 loss for the Waterloo Warriors (11-2-9-1) against the Western Mustangs, bumps Laurier (10-3-8-2) into a tie with Waterloo for sixth place in the OUA standings. Even at 38 points apiece, both squads have one game remaining on the schedule. The Rams fall to 3-0-17-3 and remain in last place.
Victoria Chapman (Belleville, Ont.) gave Ryerson a 1-0 advantage early. Less than five minutes into the first, Karli Nummikoski (Thunder Bay, Ont.) circled behind the Golden Hawks' net and sent a perfect pass to Chapman in the slot. The former Brock Badger snapped it past Lauren Webber's blocker and into the back of the net for her first goal as a Ryerson Ram.
“I don't want to pinpoint it on myself,” said Chapman following the game. “I think it was the team effort that really helped me get the goal. Obviously, it feels great to get the first one and hopefully that's the first of many to come.”
The Rams held onto that 1-0 lead until 15:20 into the second period. The Golden Hawks were buzzing in Ryerson's zone and finally rewarded for their efforts. Following a flurry of shots and a number of highlight reel saves by the Rams' netminder Alex Armstrong, a point shot snuck through her and sat in the crease. Madison MacCulloch was the first one to get there and tapped it into the empty net to level the score at one. Meigs and Giuliana Pallotta picked up the assists on the freshman's seventh of the campaign.
A scoreless third period set up Meigs' heroics in overtime.
Webber finished with 28 saves for the victory between the pipes while Armstrong also turned aside 28 shots.
“I thought we had a good start,” said Ryerson head coach Lisa Haley. “It was nice and refreshing to score the first goal and the first period was great… Obviously not the end result that we wanted but, overall, (it was) a step in the right direction for us.”
It was the final home game for Jessica Hartwick (Brampton, Ont.), Melissa Wronzberg (Thornhill, Ont.), Paulena Jakarsezian (Woodbridge, Ont.), Emma Crawley (Herring Cove, N.S.) and Emily Rose Galliani Pecchia (Toronto, Ont.). An emotional graduating ceremony to honour their time with the Rams took place before the opening puck drop.
“I was just trying to keep it together essentially,” said Hartwick. “I was kind of laughing with the girls and I think that they realized it was better to be a little bit giggly as opposed to getting a little too emotional.”
“I had a hard time keeping it together the moment that Emma (Crawley) stepped on the ice, right through to the (rest of the) five…,” added Haley.” I think… all five have left their mark on the program in some way, shape or form.... Regardless of whether it's on the ice or off the ice, those five have done everything they could to get our program to where it is right now and I feel very privileged to have spent the first five years of the program with them.”
The Rams wrap up the 2015-2016 season Saturday afternoon. They'll travel to Columbia Ice Field to lace up against the Warriors. For more information on the matchup, click here.The fun gets underway at 2:00 p.m. and will be available on OUA.tv.
NOTES: Armstrong made 19 of her 28 saves in the second period alone… The win was Webber's first since a 2-1 victory against the Brock Badgers on Jan. 9… Nummikoski's assist was her first as a Ram. She now has four goals and an assist this season.
