AROUND OUA: Top ranked Gryphons erase two goal deficit to beat No. 7 Varsity Blues
TORONTO, ON - On Friday night, the Gryphons Men's Basketball team stole the spotlight with a game-winning shot at the buzzer. On Saturday afternoon in Toronto, the Gryphons Women's Hockey did their best impersonation. After trailing 2-0 to the University of Toronto Varsity Blues, the Gryphons stormed back to win 3-2 capped by a game-winning goal from Christine Grant with just 7.7 seconds remaining in the final period. With the win, the Gryphons improve to 13-2-1 while U of T falls to 8-4-3.
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Top ranked Gryphons erase two goal deficit to beat No. 7 Varsity Blues
TORONTO, ON - On Friday night, the Gryphons Men's Basketball team stole the spotlight with a game-winning shot at the buzzer. On Saturday afternoon in Toronto, the Gryphons Women's Hockey did their best impersonation. After trailing 2-0 to the University of Toronto Varsity Blues, the Gryphons stormed back to win 3-2 capped by a game-winning goal from Christine Grant with just 7.7 seconds remaining in the final period. With the win, the Gryphons improve to 13-2-1 while U of T falls to 8-4-3.
After being named Gryphon Athlete of the Week last week, first year forward Claire Merrick was at it again on Saturday. Down 2-0, Merrick opened the scoring for the Gryphons in the second period, capitalizing on a two-on-one opportunity assisted by Averi Nooren. With five minutes left in the third period, Merrick stickhandled around the faceoff circle into the middle of the zone and unleashed a slap shot into the back of the net, tying the game at 2-2.
After tying the game, it was one Gryphon chance after another. With the game still tied at 2-2 and with only 10 seconds remaining in regulation, the game appeared to be destined for overtime. However, the Gryphons had a faceoff in Toronto's end and were able to win the ensuing faceoff. Fourth year forward Christine Grant got the puck in the slot and backhanded home the winner with just 7.7 seconds remaining in regulation.
Second year goalie Valeri Lamenta (Montreal, QC) earned her 11th win of the season. The Gryphons outshot the Varsity Blues 28-15 in what was a re-match of last year's OUA semi-final (which the Gryphons won in three games).
The Gryphons will be in action once again on Sunday (January 17) when they travel to Oshawa to face the UOIT Ridgebacks (5-9-1) at 3:30 pm.
Source: Guelph Gryphons
Warriors score team record nine goals in big win over Laurentian
In what was one of the wildest games at the CIF Arena in recent memory, finished in favour of the Warriors who topped the Laurentian Voyageurs 9-4 on Saturday. The nine goals is a team record for goals in a game by the women's hockey program who started OUA competition in 2002.
"It's been a long time since I've witnessed a game like that," said head coach Shaun Reagan. "It was like pond hockey there in the middle frame and I'm just happy we came out on top and picked up a big three points."
A look back at the last three games between Laurentian and Waterloo saw scores of 2-1 (shootout loss), 2-1 (shootout win) and 1-0 (win) so when the flood gates opened and continued to spill out onto the CIF ice surface it came as surprise.
The scoring only took 1:55 as Alison Hanson (Toronto) netted her third of the season early in the opening frame. Rachel Marriott (Waterloo) made it a 2-0 lead with a power play marker, her sixth of the season. The Voyageurs answered just 90 seconds later as Samantha Morell batted one past Stephanie Sluys (Clinton).
The Warriors would regain their two goal lead as Alyssa Gee (Ajax) put one through a maze of bodies on the power play at 14:46. Stephanie Digness (Aldergrove) and Michelle Tanel (Toronto) collected the helpers. Laurentian would not go away as Julie Hebert would fire home her team leading ninth and the visitors found themselves down just one, 3-2 after a wild 20 minutes.
The second frame would continue right where things left off as Laurentian evened the game at 3's early in the second as Ellery Veeman scored her fourth of the season.
Right when it would appear the game would settle in, Waterloo had other ideas and the black and gold would go off scoring three goals in 1:52 of action. Rebecca Rutherford (Ajax) started the madness picking up her own rebound off the back boards and putting it past Laura Deller who was pulled after the goal and replaced by Karen Collins. Paula LaGamba (Toronto) and Maryn Caragata (Etobicoke) would also get in on the action scoring just 52 seconds apart sending Collins back to the bench as Deller would come back into this contest.
Now up 6-3, Laurentian made a bid for a comeback as Sara Habal cut into the Warrior lead to make it a 6-4 game but Michelle Tanel (Toronto) tallied her second with five minutes to play and Waterloo would head into the locker room up 7-4.
The game would settle down in the final frame and Waterloo would add two empty netters (Tanel and Marriott) to make it a 9-4 final. Tanel finished with a career high four points (2g, 2a) while Marriot (2g, 1a) and LaGamba (1g, 2a) each had three points.
In net Stephanie Sluys (Clinton) was solid when she needed to be with 33 saves in the win.
Waterloo will check their nerves and come back ready for another game tomorrow at the CIF against the physical Nipissing Lakers at 2:30pm.
Source: Waterloo Warriors
Lions upset Gaels with 2-1 overtime win
Hosting their "Roar for a Cure Campaign" at Canlan Ice Arena on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 16), the York University women's hockey team pulled away with a 2-1 victory over the fourth-placed Queen's Gaels (8-1-3-1).
Thanks to a formidable goal by Tegan Duncan (Oakville, Ont.) at 1:58 in overtime, the Lion's now have a 6-8-0-0 record on the year and find themselves in the middle of the OUA standings.
The first period was a scoreless one with the Gaels finding many chances off of turnovers and counter attacks. Megan Lee (Orillia, Ont.) was solid in net to stop three sure goals from Gaels Addi Halladay, Jessica Wakefield, and Courtenay Jacklin, who all found themselves one-on-one with Lee at some point during the period.
Duncan and Stephanie Dovaston (Unionville, Ont.) each had a shot on goal before the first buzzer, but it was Lee's performance in net that kept the Lions in the game to head into the first intermission.
The Lions picked up the pace in the second period as possession shifted back and forth between the two teams. Gaels Nadia Larocca and Katrina Manoukarakis had some promising scoring chances in the early parts of the period, as well as Lions Cynthia St-Cyr (New Liskeard, Ont.) who hit the innermost part of the post.
However, it was Rianna Langford (Collingwood, Ont.) who was able to break open the scoring and put the Lions up 1-0 at 6:53, after pouncing off of a rebound from Chelsea Tucker's (Alliston, Ont.) shot on goal.
From then on, the period featured relentless, non-stop action from both teams as fans kept their eyes glued to the ice. Lee continued to play phenomenally between the bars and Gaels goaltender Caitlyn Lahonen also made many saves to keep the score at 1-0 to end the period.
Lee ended the game saving 28 shots, while Lahonen saved 34.
In the third period both teams continued to bring the heat, but after the Gaels forced the Lions to give up a penalty shot at 15:26, Claire Warren stepped up and tucked the puck past Lee to level the score 1-1 and push the play into overtime.
The Lions will continue their momentum into Sunday's (Jan. 17) matchup that will be played against the Western Mustangs. The players will hit the ice at 2pm at Canlan Ice Arena.
Source: York Lions
Badgers drop 4-2 decision to visiting UOIT
ST. CATHARINES, ON - The Brock University women's hockey team dropped a 4-2 decision to the UOIT Ridgebacks as part of Junior Badgers Day Saturday afternoon at the Seymour-Hannah Centre.
Following the game the Brock players skated with members of the Junior Badger teams.
After a scoreless opening 32 minutes, UOIT would answer first, 12:03 into the second, as Nicole LoPresti added her second goal of the season.
Just 36 seconds later, the Badgers evened it 1-1, as Lauren Webb (St. Catharines, ON) and Bronwyn O'Neill (Erinsville, ON) setop Amanda Ieradi (Stittsville, ON) who recorded her first goal of the season.
The Ridgebacks regained the one goal lead at 15:15 of the second, as Victoria MacKenzie beat Brock starter Jensen Murphy (Kingston, ON) for her second goal of the campaign.
With less than five minutes left in the third period, UOIT's Kassidy Nauboris would make it 3-1.
Brock would get one back, just under a minute later, as Amanda Ieradi and Sophie Herbert (Ryde Isle of Wight, UK) setup Christina Ieradi (Maple, ON) for her third of the season.
With the extra attacker on in the final minute, UOIT's Jenna Carter would secure the road win with an empty-netter.
In goal, Murphy recorded 17 saves in the loss. Toronto starter Cassie Charette collected 25 saves forr the victory.
The Badgers return to action Sunday, January 17th at 2:15pm when they host the Windsor Lancers at the Seymour-Hannah Centre.
Source: Brock Badgers
Hurrell the hero as Golden Hawks edge Nipissing
WATERLOO, Ont. (January 16, 2016) – Jessie Hurrell scored the game-winning goal in overtime on Saturday as the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks women's hockey team got past the Nipissing Lakers 1-0 at the Waterloo Recreation Complex.
After the two teams went scoreless through the opening 60 minutes, the Hawks took advantage of a late Lakers penalty in regulation. Just 16 seconds in to the first overtime period, Hurrell redirected a Haley Baxter (Waterloo, Ont.) point shot to help the Hawks snap their two-game losing skid.
For Hurrell, a native of Palgrave, Ont., the goal was her sixth of the season and ended a three-game drought without a point, her longest of the season.
Amanda Smith of Burlington, Ont., who was making her first start of the season, was solid in net for Laurier as she turned aside all 15 shots she faced to pick up the shutout. It was the second time this season that the Hawks (7-1-6-1) have shutout Nipissing after Lauren Webber of Burlington, Ont., earned a 3-0 victory over the Lakers (8-1-3-4) back in October.
Jacqueline Rochefort of Ajax, Ont., suffered the loss in goal for the Lakers as she allowed one goal on 22 shots.
Special teams played proved to be the difference in this contest as the Hawks penalty kill was perhaps the sole reason the game went to overtime. After taking three consecutive penalties midway through the third period, Laurier's penalty killers went to work. They killed off all three penalties, including two different stretches short two skaters, to keep the game scoreless before Hurrell's heroics on the powerplay in overtime.
With the win, Laurier moves into a tie with the Laurentian Voyageurs for seventh place in the tightly-packed OUA standings with 24 points. Just six points currently separate second place from eighth place in the conference.
The Hawks now hit the road for a showdown with their rivals, the Queen's Gaels, on Saturday, January 23. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Kingston Memorial Centre.
Source: Laurier Golden Hawks
