HAWKS CLAIM FIFTH CONSECUTIVE OUA WOMEN'S HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP

TORONTO - For the fifth consecutive season, the #3 nationally ranked Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks hoisted the provincial banner as they defeated the #6 ranked University of Toronto Varsity Blues 1-0 at Varsity Arena.

Laurier swept the best-of-three championship series in back-to-back games - 2-1 and 1-0.

Andrea Ironside (Collingwood, Ont.) for the second time in the series scored the game winning goal. Her goal came after OUA Player of the Year Lauren Barch (Burlington, Ont.) carried the puck into the zone and took a shot on net. The puck went off of a shin-pad and Ironside put it in the net. The marker was Ironside's third of the playoffs while Barch has had a four-point post-season.

"It was nice that I've been able to contribute with the goals," said an ecstatic Ironside talking about the two game winners. "But in both the games, it was a team effort and three solid periods of play."

The game, as expected, was a battle of goaltenders as both teams rifled off shots on net. Second team OUA all-star Liz Knox (Stouffville, Ont.) was faced with 20 shots on net but earned the shutout, her second of the playoffs. Laurier pummeled 39 shots on Toronto backstop Stephanie Lockert through the 60 minutes of play.

"It was tough to get a goal in the net," commented Hawk team captain Lauren Meschino of Toronto, Ont., who is this season's winner of the OUA Marion Hiller award for academics, athletics and community service. "Both teams had tons of chances, and Toronto was even close to scoring late in the game but Knox kept us in there.

Meschino accomplished a rare feat - the only Golden Hawk women's hockey player that has won five provincial championships in her five years of eligibility.

"It's un-imaginable to think that this would have happened," said a thrilled Meschino wearing the gold medal around her neck. "I've taken these successes one year at a time as every year is sweeter and sweeter and it gets harder to repeat."

"Tonight was a similar contest to game one, but I think our fore-check was stronger," said four time OUA Coach of the year Rick Osborne. "It feels awfully good to claim five banners in a row, particularly graduating some great players over the years and having the rookies pick up where they've left off."

The team now prepares to travel to Ottawa to compete in the National Championships which take place next weekend at the University of Ottawa.

"We have a lot of preparing to do and we'll work to be ready to show our stuff," commented Ironside when asked post-game about the trip to national championships.

BOX SCORE:
Laurier 1 at Toronto 0
Feb 29, 2008 -
1st Period
Scoring - No Scoring
Penalties - B. Jorensen Tor (tripping) 1:51, K. Powers Laur (inter. on goaltender) 3:00, L. Hill Tor (hooking) 3:22, E. Patry Tor (hooking) 3:55, A. Bevan Laur (tripping) 6:50

2nd Period
Scoring
1. Laurier, A. Ironside (3) (L. Barch) 11:47
Penalties - J. Clark Tor (holding) 15:43, K. Powers Laur (inter. on goaltender) 16:55, L. Hill Tor (interference) 17:11, L. Barch Laur (inter. on goaltender) 18:11, J. Clark Tor (interference) 18:11, K. Shirriff Laur (interference) 18:28

3rd Period
Scoring - No Scoring
Penalties - A. Cornell Tor (tripping) 9:07, J. Clark Tor (roughing) 12:39

LAUR Shots: 11 13 15 TOTAL: 39
TOR Shots: 4 7 9 TOTAL: 20

Power Play Conversion
Laurier 0-0. Toronto 0-0.

Goaltenders
Laurier - Knox 4-0-0-0 Min: 60:00 SV: 20 GA: 0 [W]
Toronto - Lockert 2-1-1-0 Min: 60:00 SV: 38 GA: 1 [L]

(Source: Ari Grossman, Laurier Golden Hawks, Sports Information)