AROUND OUA: Gryphons shutout Rams, improve to 2-0
Guelph, ON - Two games into the 2015-16 OUA campaign, the Guelph Gryphons Women's Hockey could not have scripted a better start to the season.
SCOREBOARD
Gryphons shutout Rams, improve to 2-0
Guelph, ON - Two games into the 2015-16 OUA campaign, the Guelph Gryphons Women's Hockey could not have scripted a better start to the season. The Gryphons shutout the Ryerson Rams 4-0 at the Gryphon Centre on Friday night to improve to 2-0-0. The Gryphons have yet to surrender a goal in two league games to start the season after shutting out the defending National Champion Western Mustangs 3-0 in the season opener. Averi Nooren scored two goals as Kelly Gribbons and Christine Grant had the others for Guelph while second year goalie Valerie Lamenta made 27 to record her fourth career shutout. Leigh Shilton, Kaitlin Lowy and Jessica Pinkerton each added assists.
The hosts started out sluggishly as some poor passing and turnovers led to Lamenta making some important saves early that kept the game scoreless. Guelph finally started to find their stride midway through the first period at the 12:40 mark when the Gryphons scored on a pretty feed on a two-on-two from Nooren to Gribbons to give Guelph a 1-0 lead. Guelph pounced again three minutes later on the power play when Nooren tipped the puck in from a shot from the point and into the back of the net after sneaking behind Ryerson's Ally Sarna on her gloveside, doubling the Gryphons lead to 2-0.
Lamenta made some big saves late in the period when the Gryphons killed off a 5 on 3 attack from the Rams to preserve the two goal lead. Grant earned herself a two point night with a goal at the 4:30 mark in the second period to extend the Gryphons lead to 3-0. Nooren, the fourth year player from Aylmer, Ont., capped off her three point night as she skated in and launched a rocket from the top of the right faceoff circle over Sarna and into the back of the net early in the third period to put the game out of reach at 4-0.
The Gryphons have a quick turnaround as they are back in action on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 2 p.m. when they host the Toronto Varsity Blues.
Source: Guelph Gryphons
Lakers topped by speedy Warriors
The positive of Friday night's Nipissing Lakers women's hockey game was their third period where they fired 14 shots towards goal, scored and controlled the play.
The negative was that they were down 3-0 heading into the final frame, making it tough for the Lakers, who were playing catch-up in the final stanza.
Looking to bounce back from a tough 2-1 overtime loss in their home opener, the Lakers entertained the Waterloo Warriors, but were unable to pick up their first win of the year, falling by a final of 5-1 when all was said and done.
Despite surrendering just 12 shots through two period and only 16 total, Nipissing trailed 2-0 after one and 3-0 after 40 minutes, forcing them to open the game up in the third.
Waterloo extended their lead to 4-0 just before the midway point of the third period.
Brooklyn Irwin would get the Lakers on the board with her first of the season as she banged home a loose puck after her and linemates Carly Marchment and Taylor Murphy crashed the net.
While it came late, Nipissing would look to close the gap even more as they pulled goaltender Sabrina Picard for the extra-attacked.
In fact, the Lakers played almost the last half of the third period with six attackers in an attempt to get back in the game.
While it worked in terms of controlling the puck, setting the pace and getting chances, the end results wasn't there as they only managed the one goal.
Picard finished with 11 saves on 15 shots.
The Lakers will look to bounce back quickly as they host the always tough Laurier Golden Hawks Saturday afternoon.
Laurier enters the game with a record of 0-1-0 after a 3-2 loss in Sudbury Friday night to Laurentian.
The Lakers are 0-1-1 and will hit the road for four straight games after Saturday's contest.
Puck drop is schedule for 4 p.m. at Memorial Gardens as the Lakers look for win number one on the year.
Source: Nipissing Lakers
Golden Hawks drop season opener to Laurentian
SUDBURY, Ont. (October 9, 2015) – The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks women's hockey team lost their 2015-16 season opener on Friday night as they fell 3-2 to the Laurentian Voyageurs.
In a penalty-filled affair in which the two teams combined for 46 minutes in penalties, Laurentian used a powerplay goal in the second period to break a 1-1 tie before adding a third goal early in the third period to come away with the victory.
Emma Leger of West Montrose, Ont., scored the eventual game-winner in the third period while Elissa Bertuzzi of Lively, Ont., and Julie Hebert of Chelmsford, Ont., also scored for the home team.
Laurier got goals from Jessie Hurrell of Palgrave, Ont., and Dollee Meigs of Owen Sound, Ont. Hurrell also picked up an assist on Meigs third period goal to finish with a two-point night.
Earning the win in goal for the Voyageurs was Laura Deller of Woodstock, Ont., who was very strong in goal stopping 37 of the 39 shots she faced. Hawks rookie netminder Lauren Webber of Burlington, Ont., took the loss allowing three goals on 31 shots.
The Hawks will look to rebound from the season-opening loss on Saturday when they travel to North Bay to face the Nipissing Lakers. Puck drop is set for 4 p.m.
NOTES: Laurier co-captain Blair Connelly of Amherstburg, Ont., played in her 100th career game on Friday night...her fellow co-captain Haley Baxter of Waterloo, Ont., will join her in reaching the century mark tomorrow afternoon against Nipissing.
Source: Laurier Golden Hawks
Gaels win their season opener 2-0 over Brock
KINGSTON, Ont. (October 9, 2015) - The Gaels (1-0) win their season opener 2-0 over the Brock Badgers (0-1) with a last minute goal to earn the victory.
The first period of the Gaels season saw them control most of the puck possession throughout the period. The Gaels offence had a couple quality scoring chances during the first ten minutes of play but could not get on the on the scoreboard. Their best scoring chance of the period came when forward Kyla Crouse (Mount Brydges, Ont.) received a pass right in front of Brock's net but could not beat the Badgers goaltender. Brock took the first penalty of the game when #12 received an interference call in front of their own net. The Gaels power play was only able to muster two shots on their man advantage with one striking off the post by a slap shot by Alisha Sealey (Elora, Ont.). Last in the first period Brocks forward #89 was hauled down on a partial breakaway by Queen's captain Mary Coughlin (Amherstburg, Ont.) who received a hooking call to give the Badgers a power play to begin the second period.
The second period began with Brock on their first power play of the game but that was quickly changed with the Badgers receiving a holding call bringing the play to four on four. Queen's went on their second power play with only a minute to take advantage with the extra player on the ice. The Gaels only mustered one shot on target. The game went back and fourth during the first ten minutes of play with both teams skating well but neither team could create quality scoring chances. In the middle of the second Brock received their second power play opportunity when Gaels Danelle Bishoff (Calgary) was called for a tripping penalty. Queen's killed off the penalty not allowing Brock any quality chances with the advantage. With six minutes left in the period the Gaels best scoring chance came off a slap shot from Sealey in the slot but was saved by the Badgers goaltender. In the dying seconds of the period Brock had their best scoring chance of the game with a wide open shot in front of the Gaels net but was pushed aside. The game remained scoreless entering the third.
The third period saw the Gaels offence continue their pressure on the Badgers in their defensive zone. Queen's Sealey had another good scoring chance early in the period with a back hand shot in the slot but was blocked away. The Gaels received their third penalty of the game in the middle of the period giving Brock another power play opportunity. Queen's goaltender Caitlyn Lahonen (Saskatoon) once again made some key saves on the penalty kill to keep the game scoreless as the Gaels killed off the penalty. With five minutes left in the game Queen's offence continued to press with another scoring opportunity coming off a rebound shot but was controlled Brocks goaltender. The Gaels offensive persistent finally wore down the Badgers with a minute left to play off a scramble play in front of the Brock net, Queen's forward Nadia Larocca (Mississauga, Ont.) put in the game winning goal for the Gaels. Larocca scored her second of the game adding the late empty net goal with seconds left to play. The game ended in a 2-0 final with Lahonen earning the shutout for the Gaels.
Source: Queen's Gaels
