March 5, 2016

Mustangs force Game Three on Sunday with 4-2 win over Nipissing

LONDON, Ont. – Lyndsay Kirkham scored the game winner and Kelly Campbell made 26 saves to help the Western Mustangs push their OUA Semi-Final series to a decisive third game with a thrilling 4-2 win over the Nipissing Lakers on Saturday at Thompson Arena.

Western

Nipissing

Final

Western

Nipissing

LONDON, Ont. – Lyndsay Kirkham scored the game winner and Kelly Campbell made 26 saves to help the Western Mustangs push their OUA Semi-Final series to a decisive third game with a thrilling 4-2 win over the Nipissing Lakers on Saturday at Thompson Arena.

"I thought we played very well," said Mustangs head coach David Barrett. "We played with a lot of courage. [We were] pretty solid in the third period with a one-goal lead. A few miscues but overall we played really well."

"Our team played amazing in front of me," said fifth-year netminder Kelly Campbell. "Didn't give up too many chances and we came out with the win."

The win now ties the series at 1-1, setting up a winner-take-all third game on Sunday at 4 p.m. at Thompson.

Kirkham's winner came with 4:30 left in the second period, notching the Mustangs second power play goal of the game. Stacey Scott recorded her first two goals of the post-season in the win, while Evra Levesque continued her playoff scoring streak, recording her fourth goal in as many games. The rookie forward leads the OUA in post-season scoring, topping the list in both goals (4) and points (6).

It was the Lakers, however, who opened the scoring. After the Mustangs took a penalty, the Lakers went to work on their power play. Defenceman Stacey Henshaw took a point-to-point pass and fired a slap shot that found its way through traffic to beat Campbell upstairs and give the Lakers 1-0 lead midway through the first period.

It didn't take long for the Mustangs to respond as they took advantage on a power play of their own only a few seconds later. Forward Amanda Pereira controlled the puck behind the net and attempted to carry it out front. She lost control of the puck but Levesque was there to put it home and tie the game at one.

"[Levesque] has matured as a player," said Barrett of the first-year forward, "She is playing with a couple new linemates since the middle of February and the three of them have been playing well together."

The Mustangs seized the lead with just under a minute to go in the first period. After the Lakers won a faceoff in their zone, a great steal from by Scott behind the net gave her the puck right in front of the Laker goal. She fired a quick shot that beat Nipissing's goaltender Jacqueline Rochefort low, giving the Mustangs a 2-1 lead heading into the second period.

The Lakers tied the game seven minutes into the second period on another power play goal by Henshaw. The lead, however, would not last for long.

The Mustangs went to the power play, and once again they were able to capitalize, as Kirkham lifted the puck up and above Rochefort to give the Mustangs the 3-2 lead.

Overall the Mustangs went two-for-five on the power play on Saturday.

"I think any coach would take forty percent," said Barrett about the team's power play, "We talked about a few things before the game and on Friday. It seemed to work out for us."

The third period featured an onslaught from Nipissing as they pressed to find the tying goal. The Lakers fired 14 shots at Campbell and they controlled the majority of the play. However, several blocked shots and some great saves from Campbell, combined with an empty net insurance marker from Scott, gave the Mustangs a 4-2 win.

"We knew they were going to push it at the end," said Campbell, "but I thought our team did a good job keeping them wide and reducing their chances."

The series' third and deciding game is set for 4 p.m. on Sunday at Thompson Arena. The winner will secure a spot in the CIS Championship, and advance to next week's McCaw Cup final against the Guelph Gryphons.