February 26, 2017

Sluys earns first career playoff shutout in Game 3 victory over Mustangs

It's been a season of firsts for the Waterloo women's hockey program and that trend continued on Sunday afternoon as the Warriors advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in the 15-year history of the program.

Waterloo

Western

Final	1	2	3	T
Waterloo	1	1	0	2
Western	0	0	0	0

It's been a season of firsts for the Waterloo women's hockey program and that trend continued on Sunday afternoon as the Warriors advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in the 15-year history of the program.

The black and gold blanked the Western Mustangs 2-0 in game 3 of the OUA quarter-finals backed by a 31 save performance by Stephanie Sluys (Clinton), her first career playoff shutout and 13th overall.

"It feels pretty good right now" said head coach Shaun Reagan. "We've come a long way and been through quite the grind to get here but I am extremely proud of our effort today. It was defence first and I knew the offence would take care of itself and it worked out for us."

Marissa Redmond (Ajax) scored her second goal of the playoffs to open the scoring after a beautiful feed from Angela MacDonald (Kitchener) to spring the fifth year free. Like the overtime winner three nights ago at the CIF, Redmond made no mistake on the partial breakaway, burying the shot past Shelby Ryan on the glove side with just 34 seconds remaining in the first.

Stephanie Digness (Aldergrove) picked up the second helper after a nice outlet pass to MacDonald. Waterloo added to their lead just 1:49 into the second as Michelle Tanel (Toronto) fired a seeing-eye shot on net that got through all the bodies in front of Ryan and past her glove. Tanel's first of the post-season was assisted by Alyssa Gee (Ajax) and Rebecca Rutherford (Ajax).

Sluys did her thing the rest of the way while Waterloo's defence was also a big factor keeping the Mustangs off the board to secure the 2-0 victory.

After Nipissing defeated Laurentian earlier this evening Waterloo will now face either Guelph or the Lakers depending on the result between Toronto and Queen's (happening now).

Source: Waterloo Warriors