March 4, 2006
HAWKS BEAT GRYPHONS 2-1 IN OUA SEMI
ST. CATHARINES - The Laurier Golden Hawks are in a familiar spot. Defenceman Lauren Meschino scored the game-winning goal, while first-year starting goaltender Morgan Wielgosz stopped 22 of 23 shots as the Golden Hawks earned the chance for a third straight Ontario University Athletics banner with a 2-1 victory over the Guelph Gryphons at the Women's Hockey Final Four Saturday at the Seymour-Hanna Sports & Entertainment Centre in St. Catharines, ON.
The Hawks took their first lead of the game late in the second period when Meschino let a shot go from the half boards that deflected in behind Guelph goaltender Aleisha Lusk with just 42 seconds remaining in the period for one of the biggest goals in the defenceman's three years at Laurier.
"I just stepped in and fired it at the net and I think it hit off of someone's skate," said Meschino, who led all Laurier rearguards in scoring during the regular season with four goals and nine assists. "It's pretty exciting. Definitely, it's up there."
Wielgosz, the CIS leader in goals against average through the regular season (1.14 gaa), was solid after allowing the lone Guelph goal in the first period. She made some key stops in a Gryphons flurry early in the third and then came up with a huge save as Guelph forward Meg Howat burst in down the right wing and fired a hard short to the short side that Wielgosz directed into the corner. Late in the game, with the Gryphons pushing for the tying marker, the Laurier goalie continued to come up big, stopping 10 shots-on-goal in the third period.
Wielgosz was making the first playoff start of her career after playing as 2005 OUA MVP Cindy Eadie's backup in last year's championship season.
"It's pretty much indescribable," Wielgosz said after the win. "Last year, I got to sit back and watch the girls do what they do. This year, I came in with that experience and have been able to replicate what they did."
"Morgan's huge," said Meschino. "Having her back behind us in net is a huge relief. We're always confident on the ice with her in net. She made some key saves in every period, especially in the last few minutes of the game."
Elysia Desmier scored for Guelph.
The Gryphons got off to a dream start when they took a 1-0 lead just 10 seconds into their second power play at 9:36 of the first period. Laurier's Nicole Gooding was in the box for a body checking minor and Guelph made the Hawks pay immediately. Brittany Roberts found Desmier cutting to the net and the second-year Ottawa native re-directed the pass, beating Wielgosz over the shoulder to give the buzzing Gryphons a surprising early cushion.
"I told our team in the afternoon meeting that we have proven in the last three years that if we get the first goal or they get the first goal, we've proven we can come back," said Laurier head coach Rick Osborne. "This was a real tough game."
Laurier responded with a couple of flurries and moments after Diana Cicchillo almost tied the game with a quick shot from in close, Candice Djukic did manage to get the equalizer at 18:20 of the first with a hard shot from the top of the right circle that Lusk couldn't see through traffic.
The Hawks carried that momentum into the second period and put constant pressure on the Gryphons defencemen, who had difficulty clearing their own zone throughout the frame. Laurier rearguard Denise Harrop had one of the better chances of the period as she went alone to the front of the net and chopped at a loose puck but Lusk did well to come out and deflect the shot away with a pokecheck.
Defensively, the Hawks did a good job tying up the sticks of the big, physical Guelph forwards, who went hard to the net all game long.
"I felt we did a good job of pressuring in the first and third but in the second, we had a hard time getting the momentum back," said Gryphons head coach Chuck Wight. "You've got to give them credit - they played a solid 60 minutes of hockey."
Wight was pleased with his team's effort against the reigning champs. Guelph had their opportunities in the third but couldn't get one past Wielgosz.
"They emptied the tank," he said.
Laurier will face the Toronto varsity Blues in the gold medal game Sunday. Guelph will play Queen's for the bronze.
GAME SUMMARY
First Period
1. Guelph, Desmier (Roberts) 9:36 (pp)
2. Laurier, Djukic (Cicchillo, Kenworthy) 18:20
Penalties_ Kirkley Guelph (interference) 1:59, Laurier Prissenti (high-sticking) 6:55, Laurier Gooding (body checking) 9:26
Second Period
3. Laurier, Meshcino (Bevan) 19:17
Penalties_ Wilson Guelph (roughing), Heslin Laurier (holding) 14:37
Third Period
No scoring.
Penalties_ Tokarcyzck Guelph (interference) 2:47
Shots on goal by
Guelph 10-3-10 _23
Laurier 10-10-5 _25
Goal (shots-saves)_Guelph: Lusk (25-23) (L, 0-1); Laurier: Wielgosz (23-22) (W, 1-0)
Power plays (goals-chances)_ Guelph: 1-2; Laurier: 0-3
Sher-wood Player of the Game
Guelph - Bianca Kitts
Laurier - Ashley Stephenson
- OUA -
The Hawks took their first lead of the game late in the second period when Meschino let a shot go from the half boards that deflected in behind Guelph goaltender Aleisha Lusk with just 42 seconds remaining in the period for one of the biggest goals in the defenceman's three years at Laurier.
"I just stepped in and fired it at the net and I think it hit off of someone's skate," said Meschino, who led all Laurier rearguards in scoring during the regular season with four goals and nine assists. "It's pretty exciting. Definitely, it's up there."
Wielgosz, the CIS leader in goals against average through the regular season (1.14 gaa), was solid after allowing the lone Guelph goal in the first period. She made some key stops in a Gryphons flurry early in the third and then came up with a huge save as Guelph forward Meg Howat burst in down the right wing and fired a hard short to the short side that Wielgosz directed into the corner. Late in the game, with the Gryphons pushing for the tying marker, the Laurier goalie continued to come up big, stopping 10 shots-on-goal in the third period.
Wielgosz was making the first playoff start of her career after playing as 2005 OUA MVP Cindy Eadie's backup in last year's championship season.
"It's pretty much indescribable," Wielgosz said after the win. "Last year, I got to sit back and watch the girls do what they do. This year, I came in with that experience and have been able to replicate what they did."
"Morgan's huge," said Meschino. "Having her back behind us in net is a huge relief. We're always confident on the ice with her in net. She made some key saves in every period, especially in the last few minutes of the game."
Elysia Desmier scored for Guelph.
The Gryphons got off to a dream start when they took a 1-0 lead just 10 seconds into their second power play at 9:36 of the first period. Laurier's Nicole Gooding was in the box for a body checking minor and Guelph made the Hawks pay immediately. Brittany Roberts found Desmier cutting to the net and the second-year Ottawa native re-directed the pass, beating Wielgosz over the shoulder to give the buzzing Gryphons a surprising early cushion.
"I told our team in the afternoon meeting that we have proven in the last three years that if we get the first goal or they get the first goal, we've proven we can come back," said Laurier head coach Rick Osborne. "This was a real tough game."
Laurier responded with a couple of flurries and moments after Diana Cicchillo almost tied the game with a quick shot from in close, Candice Djukic did manage to get the equalizer at 18:20 of the first with a hard shot from the top of the right circle that Lusk couldn't see through traffic.
The Hawks carried that momentum into the second period and put constant pressure on the Gryphons defencemen, who had difficulty clearing their own zone throughout the frame. Laurier rearguard Denise Harrop had one of the better chances of the period as she went alone to the front of the net and chopped at a loose puck but Lusk did well to come out and deflect the shot away with a pokecheck.
Defensively, the Hawks did a good job tying up the sticks of the big, physical Guelph forwards, who went hard to the net all game long.
"I felt we did a good job of pressuring in the first and third but in the second, we had a hard time getting the momentum back," said Gryphons head coach Chuck Wight. "You've got to give them credit - they played a solid 60 minutes of hockey."
Wight was pleased with his team's effort against the reigning champs. Guelph had their opportunities in the third but couldn't get one past Wielgosz.
"They emptied the tank," he said.
Laurier will face the Toronto varsity Blues in the gold medal game Sunday. Guelph will play Queen's for the bronze.
GAME SUMMARY
First Period
1. Guelph, Desmier (Roberts) 9:36 (pp)
2. Laurier, Djukic (Cicchillo, Kenworthy) 18:20
Penalties_ Kirkley Guelph (interference) 1:59, Laurier Prissenti (high-sticking) 6:55, Laurier Gooding (body checking) 9:26
Second Period
3. Laurier, Meshcino (Bevan) 19:17
Penalties_ Wilson Guelph (roughing), Heslin Laurier (holding) 14:37
Third Period
No scoring.
Penalties_ Tokarcyzck Guelph (interference) 2:47
Shots on goal by
Guelph 10-3-10 _23
Laurier 10-10-5 _25
Goal (shots-saves)_Guelph: Lusk (25-23) (L, 0-1); Laurier: Wielgosz (23-22) (W, 1-0)
Power plays (goals-chances)_ Guelph: 1-2; Laurier: 0-3
Sher-wood Player of the Game
Guelph - Bianca Kitts
Laurier - Ashley Stephenson
- OUA -
