March 9, 2009
WOODS HAT TRICK LEADS GRYPHONS TO OUA WOMEN'S HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
GUELPH, Ont. - The Guelph Gryphons women's hockey team defeated the Brock Badgers in the OUA semi-finals with a 3-2 win in the third game of the best-of-three series on Sunday night at the Gryphon Centre.
Tori Woods (Orangeville, Ont.) scored the game-winning goal for the No. 5 CIS-ranked Gryphons with one second left in the game to eliminate the Badgers in the provincial semi-final. Woods scored a hat trick for the Gryphons, who now advance to the OUA championship final in a best-of-three series against the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks.
Guelph opened the game flying on offence and got lots of early chances to score. The Gryphons capitalized first in the opening frame. Carla D'Angela took a shot from the point allowing second-year player Woods to score on the rebound, giving Guelph a 1-0 lead, 10:09 into the first period. The Gryphons were in control of the game in the first period outshooting the Badgers 13-2.
Brock battled back in the second period. The Badgers got on the scoreboard and tied the game early in the period at 3:18. They set up in their attacking zone and began cycling the puck. Third-year Maggie Young (Tiverton, Ont.) took a pass from Maggie Matheson (Kingston, Ont.) outside the top of the goal crease, and ripped a shot top shelf over the shoulder of Guelph's goaltender. The second period ended with the two teams tied 1-1 and the shots on goal in Brock's favour 12-9.
In the third period, the Badgers took the lead on the power play near the midpoint of the final frame. Brock's Courtney Sutherland (Mount Forest, Ont.) scored off a scramble in front of the net at 12:25 to take the 2-1 lead.
With two minutes remaining in the game, Woods scored her second of the night to tie the game at 2-2, off a knuckle ball from the point. Woods then had the last word in the game. She scored on a breakaway with two seconds on the clock to give the Gryphons the 3-2 series victory.
Gryphons netminder, Cassandra McNichol (Unionville, Ont.) earned the win after making 22 saves, while Brock goalie Beth Clause (Brampton, Ont.) posted 31 stops. Guelph finished 1-of-6 on the power play, while the Badgers were 1-of-5.
The Gryphons recorded a record attendance for women's hockey with 415 fans packing the Gryphon Centre.
The Gryphons will next compete in the provincial championship best-of-three series against the Laurier Golden Hawks. The first game will take place at Sun Life Arena, Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Game 2 will take place Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Gryphon Centre. If a third game is needed it will return to Waterloo on Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
Source: Guelph Gryphons Athletics
Tori Woods (Orangeville, Ont.) scored the game-winning goal for the No. 5 CIS-ranked Gryphons with one second left in the game to eliminate the Badgers in the provincial semi-final. Woods scored a hat trick for the Gryphons, who now advance to the OUA championship final in a best-of-three series against the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks.
Guelph opened the game flying on offence and got lots of early chances to score. The Gryphons capitalized first in the opening frame. Carla D'Angela took a shot from the point allowing second-year player Woods to score on the rebound, giving Guelph a 1-0 lead, 10:09 into the first period. The Gryphons were in control of the game in the first period outshooting the Badgers 13-2.
Brock battled back in the second period. The Badgers got on the scoreboard and tied the game early in the period at 3:18. They set up in their attacking zone and began cycling the puck. Third-year Maggie Young (Tiverton, Ont.) took a pass from Maggie Matheson (Kingston, Ont.) outside the top of the goal crease, and ripped a shot top shelf over the shoulder of Guelph's goaltender. The second period ended with the two teams tied 1-1 and the shots on goal in Brock's favour 12-9.
In the third period, the Badgers took the lead on the power play near the midpoint of the final frame. Brock's Courtney Sutherland (Mount Forest, Ont.) scored off a scramble in front of the net at 12:25 to take the 2-1 lead.
With two minutes remaining in the game, Woods scored her second of the night to tie the game at 2-2, off a knuckle ball from the point. Woods then had the last word in the game. She scored on a breakaway with two seconds on the clock to give the Gryphons the 3-2 series victory.
Gryphons netminder, Cassandra McNichol (Unionville, Ont.) earned the win after making 22 saves, while Brock goalie Beth Clause (Brampton, Ont.) posted 31 stops. Guelph finished 1-of-6 on the power play, while the Badgers were 1-of-5.
The Gryphons recorded a record attendance for women's hockey with 415 fans packing the Gryphon Centre.
The Gryphons will next compete in the provincial championship best-of-three series against the Laurier Golden Hawks. The first game will take place at Sun Life Arena, Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Game 2 will take place Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Gryphon Centre. If a third game is needed it will return to Waterloo on Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
Source: Guelph Gryphons Athletics
