The York University Lions women's hockey team fell to the No. 4 nationally ranked Queen's Gaels 3-2 on Saturday (Jan. 17) in a home game at Canlan Ice Sports.
 
Kristen Barbara (Mount Hope, Ont.) played an excellent game for the Lions as she criss-crossed the puck between the Gaels and held a strong defence. Barbara highlighted the game by scoring a goal 17 metres from the goal line in the second.
 
In the first, the Lions opened up the scoring early when Steffei Samuel (Markham, Ont.) scooped the puck around the post and into the net at 2:18. The Lions led the attack until 6:24, when Amber Sealey of the Gaels assisted Danielle Girard with a power play goal, tying the score 1-1.
 
The Gaels continued to force their way through the Lions, getting a break at 10:11 when Shawna Griffin smacked the puck behind the York goalie Megan Lee (Orillia, Ont.). At the end of the first, the Gaels led the game with a score of 2-1.
 
Less than three minutes into the second period, a Lions' defender's stick got caught in Lee's glove, causing her to lose track of the puck and allowing Mary Coughlin to add another goal for the Gaels, giving them a 3-1 lead.
 
At 9:36, Barbara pounded the puck into the back of the net to cut the deficit to a single goal. The score held at 3-2 heading into the final frame.
 
The Lions had no luck in the third period as it ended scoreless with a final score of 3-2.
 
Lee saved a total of 27 shots this game, while Gaels goalie Caitlyn Lahonen had 23.
 
The Lions are in seventh place in the OUA standings with a record of 8-7-2, while the Gaels dominate in second place at 12-2-3.
 
As part of the afternoon, the Lions hosted their annual Roar for a Cure game in support of cancer research and raised more than $700 for the Canadian Cancer Society.
 
The next game for the Lions is Sunday (Jan. 18) against the UOIT Ridgebacks in Oshawa, Ont. Puck drop is set for 3:30pm.