The York University Lions women's hockey team emerged as winners in a thrilling win over the Waterloo Warriors on Sunday (Jan. 11) in Waterloo, Ont. The Lions scored five straight goals to turn a 3-1 deficit into a big 6-3 victory.
 
The Lions recorded their first win of the new year thanks to inspiring performances by Sarai Whitty (Kingston, Ont.) and Kristen Barbara (Mount Hope, Ont.).
 
Whitty drew first blood through a power play after just five minutes of the first period. Barbara passed to Lisa Stathopulos (Toronto), who made a long pass to the opposite wing towards Whitty. The veteran forward then released a shot that deflected off the crossbar and into the net for the first goal of the game.
 
The Warriors responded with two goals of their own in the same period. Angela MacDonald scored the equalizer at 8:51 with assists from Rebecca Rutherford and Siobhan Hewitt-Kenda. The home players rushed forward rapidly, catching the Lions' defence off-guard. MacDonald tucked in the goal clinically from an excellent team play.
 
Marissa Redmond scored a solo goal at 16:12. Redmond intercepted a pass from behind the Lions' net and slid in the puck to give the Warriors a 2-1 lead before the intermission.
 
After the break, the Warriors extended their lead to 3-1 through a goal by Hewitt-Kenda at 6:47. Redmond and Bailey Bradt were credited with the assists.
 
At 12:15, Amy Locke (Toronto) pushed the Lions back into the game as the Warriors failed to clear a dangerous attempt by Rianna Langford (Collingwood, Ont.). The tipped shot was rebounded by Stathopulos, who centred the puck for Locke to finish.
 
The floodgates opened when Whitty scored her second of the game at 2:41 of the final period for the visiting team's dramatic equalizer. Justine Treadwell (Huntsville, Ont.) made a vital tackle to stop the Warriors' attacking play. Stephanie Dovaston (Unionville, Ont.) merged forward with Whitty from their own court. Dovaston showed good skill skating past defenders before sending the puck to the middle for Whitty to drive home. Dovaston and Treadwell were credited with assisting the goal.
 
Tonisha Maisonneuve (North Bay, Ont.) tapped in a pass from Locke from behind the opposition's net for the Lions' winner. Langford was also involved in the play.
 
At 9:46, Stathopulos scored the Lions' fifth goal with the support of Barbara's pass. Stathopulos surged forward to go one-on-one with Stephanie Sluys before sliding the puck between the goalie's legs and into the net. The experienced forward is currently the top scorer in the OUA with 13 goals this season.
 
Barbara made an outstanding long shot attempt from her own ice towards the empty net. The puck slid past the defenders who couldn't stop it from going in. The goal stamped the Lions' amazing comeback over a strong Warriors squad.
 
The Lions will face a tough challenge against the No. 5 nationally-ranked Queen's Gaels at Canlan Ice Sports on Saturday (Jan. 17) at 2pm.