OUA Women's Hockey Roundup (Feb. 19)
February 15, 2018
UOIT 2 Ryerson 5
In a game that saw Rams forward Lauren Nicholson (Dresden, Ont.) tally her first career OUA hat trick, the Ryerson Rams took yet another crucial victory Thursday night on home ice, winning by a score of 5-2 against the UOIT Ridgebacks.
The Ridgebacks would strike first in the game as UOIT winger Chelsea Ball (Maple, Ont.) put the puck past Ryerson goaltender Fanny Vigeant (St-Hyacinthe, Que.) to give her team a 1-0 lead midway through the first period.
Ryerson’s streak of offensive dominance began early in the second period. Alyssa Connolly (Mount Albert, Ont.) would score a powerplay goal that was immediately waved off by the referee due to goaltender interference. Just a few minutes later, Nicholson would net Ryerson’s first allowable goal of the game off a feed from linemate Brooklyn Gemmill (Brampton, Ont.) to tie the game at one. The Rams’ new line combination of Nicholson, Gemmill and Madison Lalonde (Blenheim, Ont.) would combine for six points on the night, a feat that head coach Lisa Haley was impressed with.
“Those three, they’ve got a lot of energy and all three of them can put the puck in the back of the net. We really leaned on them tonight and it was great to see them pull through,” noted Haley.
Nicholson would add her second goal of the game off a Ridgebacks turnover, claiming the lead for her team with nine minutes to play in the second period. Sarah McGilvray (Stouffville, Ont.) would capitalize on another UOIT turnover, netting her third of the year and giving Ryerson a 3-1 lead heading into the second intermission.
UOIT scored midway through the third period to cut Ryerson’s lead to one, but the Rams would not back down in this matchup. Nicholson scored her third goal of the game at 11:31 in the third period, marking her first career hat trick and increasing Ryerson’s lead to two.
“It’s always nice to contribute offensively,” Nicholson modestly said after the matchup. “My linemates played a big part in it too, and I haven’t scored in a few games so it’s nice to finally put one in the net.”
Emma Low-A-Chee (North York, Ont.) would score on a fluke deflection to close off the game for Ryerson, as the Rams battled their way to a 5-2 victory over the UOIT Ridgebacks.
Source: ryersonrams.ca
February 16, 2018
Waterloo 1 Nipissing 2
With a lot on the line heading into the final weekend of the regular season, the Nipissing Lakers women's hockey team looked as ready as ever for the post-season.
Dominating early on and throughout most of the game, it took a shootout to give Nipissing the win, but they were able to earn the extra point, outlasting Waterloo 2-1.
After a scoreless first period that saw the Lakers outshoot Waterloo 16-1, Nipissing finally did find the back of the net in the middle frame.
Sam Strassburger provided the offence when she drove the net and cashed in on a loose puck that wasn't covered up.
Jade Gauthier and Madison Solie picked up assists on the game's opening goal that came after 21 Nipissing shots.
The Lakers held their lead until the seven minute mark of the third period when the Warriors tied the game while on a five-minute power play.
The game, although it didn't look like it on paper, ended up a one-goal affair and was finally decided in a shootout, taking six shooters aside to separate the two teams, with Gauthier scoring twice in the shootout to lead Nipissing to victory.
Danika Ranger made 16 saves during the game and another four in the shootout earning the win, while Taylor Reimer was outstanding in net for Waterloo, finishing with an impressive 43 saves, as well as three more in the shootout, but takes the loss.
Source: nulakers.ca
Toronto 1 York 3
Canlan Ice Sports was the site of the York University Lions women's hockey team's final home game of the season on Friday night, which ended with a 3-1 win over the Toronto Varsity Blues.
Christina Chin scored the lone goal of the first period at 14:54 to give the Lions a 1-0 lead after one. The second period played out in a similar fashion, with the Lions once again scoring the only tally of the game, this one courtesy of Chelsea Tucker that made the sore 2-0.
Toronto got one back at 3:27 of the final frame, on a power play tally by Jessica Robichaud, but any real chance of a comeback faded just over two minutes later when Erran Lee reinstated York's two-goal lead.
Lee's goal was the last scoring of the game, and the Lions improved to 7-0-12-4 with one game left. The Lions moved into a tie for 10th place with the UOIT Ridgebacks with one game remaining on the schedule. They have already been eliminated from the playoffs. The Blues, meanwhile, wrapped up their regular season on Friday night with the loss and will finish in sixth place in the OUA standings thanks to their 13-0-9-2 record.
Source: yorkulions.ca
February 17, 2018
Guelph 4 Ryerson 0
TORONTO, Ont. – The 2017-18 OUA women's hockey regular season has officially come to an end for the Guelph Gryphons. And the two-time defending conference champions will officially begin their quest for a third consecutive McCaw Cup as the No. 2-seed in the OUA. Saturday afternoon at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto, the No. 7-nationally ranked Gryphons capped off their impressive 2017-18 regular season with a 4-0 road win over the Ryerson Rams. With the victory, the Gryphons clinch 2nd-place in the OUA standings with a record of 17-6-0. Second year forward Sydney Davison recorded a hat trick while fourth year goalie Valerie Lamenta made 17 saves for her second consecutive shutout.
"We got off to a bit of a slow start this afternoon but seemed to find some good energy at the end of the 1st period," said Gryphons head coach Rachel Flanagan. "We were really able to hem them in their own end during the 2nd and 3rd periods, and Val (Lamenta) was really good for us in the first 10 minutes. Ryerson only had three lines rolling tonight but were working really hard. We knew it was going to be a tough test today, but getting the three points was big. Home ice advantage for at least two rounds, if you're fortunate enough to make it that far, can be a big factor."
Saturday's meeting marked the second matchup of the season between the Gryphons and Rams, with Ryerson stealing a 4-3 victory in Guelph nearly four months ago in what was the regular season opener. Just as they did in that first meeting, the Gryphons would once again jump out to a 2-0 lead. Gryphons fifth year senior Kelly Gribbons (Port Elgin, ON) would open the scoring midway through the 2nd period by firing a wrist shot into the top corner for her 12th goal of the season. Photo courtesy Christian BenderLater in the period, a trailing Sydney Davison would jump on a loose puck and slide a quick shot through the five-hole of Ryerson goalie Rachel Seeley. Davison's 7th goal of the season gave the Gryphs a two-goal cushion heading to the final period.
Davison, a second year forward who was named to the OUA's All-Rookie Team a season ago, would cap off a memorable afternoon by adding two more goals in the final period to complete the second hat trick of her career. At the 11:37 mark, Kristen Jay would set up Davison for her second of the night, with Davison finishing on the backhand in close to put the Gryphons up 3-0. With just under five minutes remaining, Davison would complete the hat trick with a power play goal. This time, the Oakville native would unleash a rocket of a shot into the top corner for her 9th goal of the season. It marked the second hat trick in a four-game span for Davison, who also recorded a four-goal game at Windsor on February 3.
"Syd has really started to find her stride, offensively, in these last few weeks," added Flanagan. "Her production offensively is really a result to the development of her all-around game. She continues to improve at both ends of the ice and it has been great to see her make an impact at some many different areas of the game."
Source: gryphons.ca
York 3 Brock 1
The York University Lions women's hockey wrapped up the 2017-18 campaign on Saturday afternoon with a 3-1 victory over the Brock Badgers at Seymour-Hannah Centre in St. Catharines, Ont.
The result marked the team's second straight 3-1 win to close the season as the Lions also posted a victory by the same score over the Toronto Varsity Blues in their home finale on Friday. The Lions ended the year with an 8-0-12-4 record and in 10th place in the OUA standings, six points out of the final playoff spot.
It was the hometown Badgers who opened the scoring as Amanda Ieradi found the back of the net just seven minutes into the first period for a 1-0 lead.
Near the end of the frame the Lions levelled the score thanks to Erin Locke, who tallied on the power play at 16:38. The score remained tied at 1-1 heading into the first intermission.
After a scoreless second period, the Lions took their first lead of the contest 6:53 into the third courtesy of Steffei Samuel. They added an insurance marker at 13:12 off the stick of Locke, her second of the afternoon, and the Lions held onto the two-goal advantage to the final whistle.
Roxanne Kis earned the win in net, making 31 saves, while Julia Pettella took the loss after 28 saves and three goals allowed.
Source: yorkulions.ca
Waterloo 2 Laurentian 0
It took all 24 games but the black and gold secured the eighth and final playoff spot on Saturday afternoon in Sudbury with a 2-0 shutout win over the Laurentian Voyageurs.
Waterloo was two points up on Laurentian and needed a regulation win and three points to secure the post-season berth and they did just that with the victory.
The Warriors finish the regular season with a 12-11-1 record and will face the top-seeded Queen's Gaels in the opening round.
Despite going into the series as the underdog, Waterloo has defeated the No. 8 Gaels twice this year with a 3-2 overtime win in October at the CIF and a 4-1 win on February 3 in Kingston.
The three game series will open up on Wednesday at the CIF with game two and three to go Friday and Saturday in Kingston.
Stephanie Sluys (Clinton/) earned her 14th career shutout in the 2-0 win over Laurentian making 21 stops.
Jenna Hewitt-Kenda (North Vancouver/) scored her third goal of the season with Cynthia Cavanagh(Scarborough/) and Selena Dirven (Watford/) picking up the helpers while Amy Barnard (Cambridge/) put away the contest with an empty netter with just 16 seconds left.
Source: athletics,uwaterloo.ca
Laurier 1 Nipissing 3
A playoff position was locked up, their spot in the standings couldn't change much, but the Nipissing Lakers women's hockey team still wanted to finish on a high note.
And they did just that Saturday afternoon, defeating the Laurier Golden Hawks 3-1.
Prior to the Lakers game, the result of Ryerson and Guelph locked up fourth place for Nipissing, who will face Ryerson in Round 1 of the OUA Playoffs, which begin Wednesday.
Nipissing was first on the board, as Maria Dominico buried her 15th of the season after making a couple nie dekes, then slid the puck between the Laurier goaltender's legs to put the Lakers up 1-0.
Madison Solie picked up the lone assist on the game's opening goal.
Up 1-0, the Lakers extended their lead when Bronwyn Bolduc drove the net and Sam Strassburger made a hard pass that redirected off Bolduc's shin and into the net.
The goal came just 1:06 into the middle frame.
Laurier would answer later in the period, scoring just after the midway point to cut the Nipissing lead in half.
A shot through traffic made its way into the back of the net as Laurier got on the board.
Despite being in control, Nipissing led by just a goal after two periods of play.
Nipissing added to their lead in the third period when Jetta Derenoski intercepted a pass and made no mistake finding the back of the net.
The goal was all the scoring for the game, as Nipissing picked up another three points.
Jackie Rochefort finished with 11 saves playing in the final regular season game of her career.
The Lakers outshot Laurier 31-12
Source: nulakers.ca
February 18, 2018
Laurier 2 Laurentian 4
On Sunday afternoon, the Voyageurs women's hockey team team ended their 2017/2018 season with a 4-2 win over the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks.
The Vees opened the scoring at 11:02 by way of Myla McCormick on a play assisted by Natalie Lamarche and Brooklyn Davis.
The Golden Hawks responded shortly after as Emily Woodhouse tied the contest at 13:12.
The scoring resumed early in the second period as Marie-Pierre Pelissou scored just 44 seconds in. Megan Arnott and McCormick also assisted on the goal.
Elissa Bertuzzi then increased the Vees lead to 3-1 at 1:13 on a play set up by Mariah Beckett.
At 8:03 the Golden Hawks would claw back within a goal of the Vees as Jaden Head found the back of the net.
Lamarche would restore the Vees two goal advantage at 15:40 before the teams took to their dressing rooms for the second intermission.
There would be no scoring in the third period and the final buzzer would signal the end of the game as well as the season for the Voyageurs. The outcome of the season is not what the Vees were hoping for as they missed the playoffs. However, they will be motivated by the result will look to rebuild and regroup over the summer.
The Voyageurs will say goodbye to their loyal veterans who are graduating this year and will not be returning next season. The door will now be open to the younger crop of Voyageurs to fill the void left by the returning players and will hit the ice in September poised to build off of this season.
Source: luvoyageurs.ca
