March 15, 2009
GOLDEN HAWKS FORCE GAME 3 IN OUA WOMEN'S HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
GUELPH, Ont. - With a chance to win the OUA women's hockey championship in front of their home fans, the Guelph Gryphons came up just short losing 2-1 to the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks on Saturday evening at the Gryphon Centre. The loss levels the best-of-three Championship series at 1-1, setting up a Game 3 sudden-death final, hosted by Laurier on Sunday evening beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Waterloo Recreational Complex in Waterloo.
In front of over 800 raucous fans, The Gryphons and Golden Hawks battled from start to finish. In the end it was the Hawks who came out on top thanks to great defensive play limiting Guelph to only five shots in the third period.
Candace Kellough (Bolton, Ont.) and Lauren Barch (Burlington, Ont.) scored for Laurier while Dayna Kanis (Georgetown, Ont.) had the lone Guelph goal. Goaltender Cassandra McNichol once again gave the Gryphons a chance to win stopping 27 of Laurier's 29 shots. Laurier Goaltender Liz Knox (Stouffville, Ont.) did her part stopping 18 of 19.
The atmosphere at puck-drop was electric and the action intense. Only a few minutes in, a Guelph giveaway gave Laurier a 2-on-0 chance that was just barely prevented by a diving Laura Milton (Drumbo, Ont.), who disrupted the Hawks player just enough to force her shot wide of an open net. Minutes later though, Laurier would open the scoring when Kellough slid the puck under a swimming McNichol. Refusing to back down, the Gryphons answered with Kanis banging in a loose puck to tie the game at 1-1 just minutes later.
In the second period, Laurier scored early when Barch snuck one in five-hole after 11 seconds of play. Guelph responded well again pounding away in the Laurier end but still trailed after 40 minutes.
Things heated up in the third when Laurier's Kaley Powers (Kingston, Ont.) ran into Gryphon goaltender McNichol, driving her hard into the goalpost. McNichol was down for a few minutes but stayed in the game. Powers received an interference penalty and shortly after, the Gryphons had a two-man advantage after Laurier took a second penalty for tripping.
The Gryphon's failed to convert and stepping out of the box, Laurier's Powers grabbed a loose puck for a clear breakaway. McNichol stood strong and made a huge pad save to keep her team alive. With under a minute to go and net empty, the Gryphons were buzzing, cycling the puck and frantically searching for one final chance. Unfortunately Laurier's defence proved too good and held the Gryphons off until the buzzer sounded.
Source: Guelph Gryphons Athletics
In front of over 800 raucous fans, The Gryphons and Golden Hawks battled from start to finish. In the end it was the Hawks who came out on top thanks to great defensive play limiting Guelph to only five shots in the third period.
Candace Kellough (Bolton, Ont.) and Lauren Barch (Burlington, Ont.) scored for Laurier while Dayna Kanis (Georgetown, Ont.) had the lone Guelph goal. Goaltender Cassandra McNichol once again gave the Gryphons a chance to win stopping 27 of Laurier's 29 shots. Laurier Goaltender Liz Knox (Stouffville, Ont.) did her part stopping 18 of 19.
The atmosphere at puck-drop was electric and the action intense. Only a few minutes in, a Guelph giveaway gave Laurier a 2-on-0 chance that was just barely prevented by a diving Laura Milton (Drumbo, Ont.), who disrupted the Hawks player just enough to force her shot wide of an open net. Minutes later though, Laurier would open the scoring when Kellough slid the puck under a swimming McNichol. Refusing to back down, the Gryphons answered with Kanis banging in a loose puck to tie the game at 1-1 just minutes later.
In the second period, Laurier scored early when Barch snuck one in five-hole after 11 seconds of play. Guelph responded well again pounding away in the Laurier end but still trailed after 40 minutes.
Things heated up in the third when Laurier's Kaley Powers (Kingston, Ont.) ran into Gryphon goaltender McNichol, driving her hard into the goalpost. McNichol was down for a few minutes but stayed in the game. Powers received an interference penalty and shortly after, the Gryphons had a two-man advantage after Laurier took a second penalty for tripping.
The Gryphon's failed to convert and stepping out of the box, Laurier's Powers grabbed a loose puck for a clear breakaway. McNichol stood strong and made a huge pad save to keep her team alive. With under a minute to go and net empty, the Gryphons were buzzing, cycling the puck and frantically searching for one final chance. Unfortunately Laurier's defence proved too good and held the Gryphons off until the buzzer sounded.
Source: Guelph Gryphons Athletics
