February 25, 2008
LAURIER AND TORONTO TO PLAY FOR OUA CHAMPIONSHIP
Laurier 1, Queen's 0 OT
Lauren Barch scored the game winning goal for the No.3 nationally ranked Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (23-2-2) in overtime to eliminate the Queen's Golden Gaels (12-9-6) in the provincial semi-final.
Barch (Burlington, Ont.) knocked a rebound by Melissa John at the 8:02 mark of the first overtime period. The goal came on the power play after Michelle Hunt was called on a tripping call at 7:42.
"It's awfully tough to win the game on an overtime penalty call," commented head coach Rick Osborne. "Our power play unit is a fairly strong group compared to most in the country and although the teams were tired after a long and hard-fought game, they were able to put it in."
John, the Queen's goalie had previously stopped 35 shots on net in the contest and had been trouble for the Golden Hawks all season long. Barch's shot came after Stephanie Crarey (Newmarket, Ont.) carried the puck into the zone and put a shot on net. Meschino redirected the puck and John stopped it only to have the rebound go to Barch.
"We always have trouble finishing against Queen's," commented Barch. "Through the entire season we've out-shot them significantly, we've realized we wanted that game in overtime and just pushed until we were able to get the goal."
Laurier's Liz Knox (Stouffville, Ont.) was faced with 16 shots through the contest. The win is her second of the playoffs and 22nd of the season. She has also has a league high, eight shutouts on the year.
Queen's was trying to avoid elimination at all costs and although they found opportunity to shoot on net the Hawks were controlling the puck through the majority of the contest.
The Golden Hawks will now move on to the provincial championship for the eighth consecutive time. Laurier will host the ranked University of Toronto Varsity Blues, starting on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex.
Toronto 2, Guelph 1 OT
The Guelph Gryphon women's hockey team put up a tough fight against the Toronto Varsity Blue in the best of three semi-final series, but despite their efforts, were unable to advance to the OUA finals, dropping their second game 2-1 in overtime Saturday night at the Gryphon Center. The first period was where the women found themselves in early trouble. Toronto seemed to dominate the play, undoubtedly controlling the puck. Guelph was able to hold off the Blues onslaught for only so long, when this streak was broken with 4:00 remaining in the first.
Toronto sniper Annie Del Guidice (Hamilton, Ont) capitalized on a pass from team mate Janinie Davies (Peterbourough, Ont) to take the 1-0 lead over the home team.
With their future on the line, the Gryphons began to noticeably change throughout the second period. Although no goals were scored, they went from a shot deficit of 8 to merely 4, dominating the play and securing the zone. Blues tender Stephanie Lockert (Thunder Bay, Ont) was able to turn away all of Guelph's shots.
Despite a scoreless first forty minutes, the Gryphons began to show signs of life. Though the first 19:00 were uneventful, and generally back and forth, the Gryphons called a time out. With two unsuccessful pulls of tender Sarah Long, she was finally able to get to the bench, releasing a sixth attacker who happened to be the Gryphon's lead scorer Jennifer Rivers (York, Ont). With time running down, a scramble ensued, and Elysia Desmier (Ottawa, Ont) was able to knock in the loose puck with only 0:12 remaining. This took the two clubs to a ten minute, sudden death over time period.
Although the Gryphons opened a new hope for a win with their late goal, the Varsity Blues upset the women late in the OT period, where Laura Foster (Burlington, Ont) buried the rebound, ending the Gryphons season 8:46 in to overtime.
Lauren Barch scored the game winning goal for the No.3 nationally ranked Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (23-2-2) in overtime to eliminate the Queen's Golden Gaels (12-9-6) in the provincial semi-final.
Barch (Burlington, Ont.) knocked a rebound by Melissa John at the 8:02 mark of the first overtime period. The goal came on the power play after Michelle Hunt was called on a tripping call at 7:42.
"It's awfully tough to win the game on an overtime penalty call," commented head coach Rick Osborne. "Our power play unit is a fairly strong group compared to most in the country and although the teams were tired after a long and hard-fought game, they were able to put it in."
John, the Queen's goalie had previously stopped 35 shots on net in the contest and had been trouble for the Golden Hawks all season long. Barch's shot came after Stephanie Crarey (Newmarket, Ont.) carried the puck into the zone and put a shot on net. Meschino redirected the puck and John stopped it only to have the rebound go to Barch.
"We always have trouble finishing against Queen's," commented Barch. "Through the entire season we've out-shot them significantly, we've realized we wanted that game in overtime and just pushed until we were able to get the goal."
Laurier's Liz Knox (Stouffville, Ont.) was faced with 16 shots through the contest. The win is her second of the playoffs and 22nd of the season. She has also has a league high, eight shutouts on the year.
Queen's was trying to avoid elimination at all costs and although they found opportunity to shoot on net the Hawks were controlling the puck through the majority of the contest.
The Golden Hawks will now move on to the provincial championship for the eighth consecutive time. Laurier will host the ranked University of Toronto Varsity Blues, starting on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex.
Toronto 2, Guelph 1 OT
The Guelph Gryphon women's hockey team put up a tough fight against the Toronto Varsity Blue in the best of three semi-final series, but despite their efforts, were unable to advance to the OUA finals, dropping their second game 2-1 in overtime Saturday night at the Gryphon Center. The first period was where the women found themselves in early trouble. Toronto seemed to dominate the play, undoubtedly controlling the puck. Guelph was able to hold off the Blues onslaught for only so long, when this streak was broken with 4:00 remaining in the first.
Toronto sniper Annie Del Guidice (Hamilton, Ont) capitalized on a pass from team mate Janinie Davies (Peterbourough, Ont) to take the 1-0 lead over the home team.
With their future on the line, the Gryphons began to noticeably change throughout the second period. Although no goals were scored, they went from a shot deficit of 8 to merely 4, dominating the play and securing the zone. Blues tender Stephanie Lockert (Thunder Bay, Ont) was able to turn away all of Guelph's shots.
Despite a scoreless first forty minutes, the Gryphons began to show signs of life. Though the first 19:00 were uneventful, and generally back and forth, the Gryphons called a time out. With two unsuccessful pulls of tender Sarah Long, she was finally able to get to the bench, releasing a sixth attacker who happened to be the Gryphon's lead scorer Jennifer Rivers (York, Ont). With time running down, a scramble ensued, and Elysia Desmier (Ottawa, Ont) was able to knock in the loose puck with only 0:12 remaining. This took the two clubs to a ten minute, sudden death over time period.
Although the Gryphons opened a new hope for a win with their late goal, the Varsity Blues upset the women late in the OT period, where Laura Foster (Burlington, Ont) buried the rebound, ending the Gryphons season 8:46 in to overtime.
