AROUND OUA: Lakers defeat Ridgebacks 4-3 in OT for second straight win
While the team will downplay it, there is a lot of talk and a lot of hype surrounding the Nipissing Lakers women's hockey team entering the 2016-17 season.
SCOREBOARD
Nipissing 4 @ UOIT 3
York 0 @ Queen's 3
Lakers defeat Ridgebacks 4-3 in OT for second straight win
While the team will downplay it, there is a lot of talk and a lot of hype surrounding the Nipissing Lakers women's hockey team entering the 2016-17 season.
After coming within a goal from a trip to the OUA championship game and CIS championships, the Lakers are reloaded and ready to go and they got off to a great start last night.
They hit the road for a pair of games this weekend to begin the season, facing the Queens Gaels Saturday and the UOIT Ridgebacks Sunday afternoon.
On Saturday, Nipissing came away with a 5-2 victory over the Gaels in Kingston, thanks to multi-point games by Sam Strassburger, Alexane Papineau and Bronwyn Bolduc.
Along with a great performance by Jackie Rochefort who made 32 saves.
Papineau got the season started off the right way, scoring early in the first period to set the tone.
The Gaels would respond just over a minute later to send the team to the dressing room tied 1-1 after 20 minutes.
From that point on, however, the Lakers took control.
Nipissing used goals by Kaley Tienhaara, Bolduc and Kaitlyn McManus, all in the second period, to take a 4-2 lead into the final frame.
Strassburger would add a goal to seal the victory for the Lakers, who eliminated Queens last season in the post-season for their first ever series win.
Sunday, the Lakers were in tough, going to a shootout, but they outlasted the Ridgebacks for their second straight win.
After opening the scoring for a second straight game thanks to Zosia Davis' goal, the Lakers found themselves even once again about eight minutes later as UOIT tied the game.
With the score tied 1-1, early in the second period, Bolduc would give Nipissing their second lead of the game, but like the first, it didn't last.
Very shortly after, UOIT tied things up and after 40 minutes of play, the teams were even again.
Brooklyn Irwin would break the deadlock early in the third period with her first of the season, but just like the earlier one goal leads, it disappeared.
UOIT scored with just minutes left to even the game and send it to overtime.
In the extra period, both teams had power play chances, but failed convert and the game was decided in a shootout, with the Lakers picking up the win.
Kaitlyn McManus scored the lone shootout goal for Nipissing and Jackie Rochefort was great, making some huge saves in overtime and all three in the shootout.
The Lakers are back in action this weekend at home, Friday against Windsor at 7pm and Saturday versus Western at 4:30pm
Source: Nipissing Lakers
Pascal's shutout leads Gaels to 3-0 win over York
KINGSTON, Ont. (October 16, 2016) – The Gaels (1-1) defeated the York Lions (1-1) 3-0 at home on Sunday afternoon picking up their first win of the season.
GAME FLOW
The first period saw even action between both teams. After several close chances, it was the Gaels who were first on the board, during a power play opportunity. Katrina Manoukarakis (Scarborough, Ont.) capitalized on a rebound chance, after Mackenzie Stamper (Oakville, Ont.) took a hard shot from the point. Amber Sealey (Fergus, Ont.) picked up the second assist on the goal.
In the second period, it was all Queen's Gaels. Shortly into the period, Kaylie Dennis (London, Ont.) cleanly won an offensive zone faceoff, allowing Nadia Larocca (Mississauga, Ont.) to drive the net and score on a five-hole shot. Thirty seven seconds later, Katrina Manoukarakis (Scarborough, Ont.) scored her second goal of the game on a top-shelf shot, after receiving a go ahead pass from Emily Jukosky (Stirling, Ont.). Kyla Crouse (Mount Brydges, Ont.) picked up the other assist on the goal.
After a number of chances, the third period remained scoreless, allowing the Gaels to take a 3-0 final over the York Lions.
Gaels goaltender Stephanie Pascal (Val Caron, Ont.) shutout the Lions, making 31 saves in her highly anticipated return.
FINAL SAY
"I am most proud of our bounce back from last night. I am happy to see perseverance and mental toughness this early in the season. Pascal was solid in net for us. She was the player of the game, as given by our players. For her first official game-action in over a year, you'd never know that she was out for that long. I am really proud of her, for the recovery that she's made." – Coach Holmberg
BY THE NUMBERS
31 – 31 saves for Gaels goaltender Stephanie Pascal
2 – 2 goals for Gaels forward Katrina Manoukarakis
UP NEXT
The Gaels take on the Laurier Golden Hawks October 21st in Waterloo, Ont. The game begins at 7:30pm.
Source: Queen's Gaels
