The York University Lions women's hockey team routed the Ryerson Rams by a score of 5-0 on Sunday (Nov. 30) at Canlan Ice Sports. The Lions were efficient in their counter-attacks as three of the goals came from interceptions in their defensive half. 
 
The Lions took an early lead at 2:28 through rookie forward Justine Treadwell (Huntsville, Ont.) after a successful counter-attack initiated by Sarah Conway (Orillia, Ont.). Treadwell beat goaltender Ally Sarna by firing to the top corner of the net.
 
Lisa Stathopulos (Toronto) almost scored the Lions' second two minutes after the restart, but her shot was stopped.
 
The first 10 minutes was played mostly in the Rams' defensive half as the Lions pressured the visitors. The Rams had their chances after a couple of two-on-one situations were snuffed out by Lions goaltender Megan Lee (Orillia, Ont.).
 
With less than eight minutes left in the first period, Rams' forward Clare Savine outpaced the Lions' defenders and took a sniper of a shot on target. The attempt deflected off the sidebar as the Lions struggled to keep possession in their court.
 
The Lions led 1-0 after one period.
 
The home team put on an outstanding display in the second frame. Sarai Whitty (Kingston, Ont.) doubled the hosts' lead after 2:25 minutes of play. Whitty drove forward and took a powerful shot past the goalie.
 
Three minutes later, Lee's goaltending abilities were tested as the Rams emerged forward and took an open shot straight at the veteran goalie, but she was up to the task and made the save.
 
Nine minutes in, the Lions became more menacing offensively. Stathopulos successfully skated past three defenders before seeing her shot deflected. Rianna Langford (Collingwood, Ont.) linked up well with Amy Locke (Toronto) at half-ice. Locke found Stathopulos in the centre, who then took a shot and scored the Lions' third at 10:32.
 
Stathopulos bagged her second of the game as the Lions counter-attacked clinically. Locke intercepted the Rams' play and laid the puck off for Stathopulos to finish at 14:22.
 
The Lions eased the offensive pressure in the final period. However, Stathopulos had a chance to mark her hat-trick as the Rams' players scrambled to clear the danger.
 
At 12:29, Whitty took an off-target shot on the left flank. A wicked deflection off Sarna's legs diverted the puck into the net for the Lions' fifth of the evening.
 
The Lions cap off the fall term with an improved record of 7-5-2, already more wins than they had in all of last season. After the long December break, the team will return on Friday (Jan. 9) with a road game against the Laurier Golden Hawks at 7:30pm.