The York University Lions women's hockey team fell to the UOIT Ridgebacks on Thursday (Oct. 8) by a score of 3-2 in their season opener in Oshawa, Ont.
 
The Lions were the first to get on the scoreboard as rookie Tegan Duncan (Oakville, Ont.) found the back of the net for her first CIS goal. She was set up by Chelsea Tucker (Alliston, Ont.) and Lauren Cavarzan (Hamilton, Ont.).
 
Forty-five seconds after opening goal by the Lions, the Ridgebacks retaliated with a score of their own on a goal by Victoria Mackenzie at the 10:34 mark. The remainder of the first period was filled with power plays for both teams but neither the Lions nor Ridgebacks could break the tie.
 
The second period was much of the same as the first, just with less scoring. The period started off with four York penalties before the eight-minute mark, which handed the Ridgebacks early momentum. UOIT eventually capitalized at 12:51 when Kassidy Nauboris potted a tally past York starting goaltender Megan Lee (Orillia, Ont.), and the Ridgebacks took the 2-1 into the third.
 
The well balanced first two periods between the two sides carried over to the third. The Ridgebacks took a penalty in the first minute of play which should have ignited the Lions offensive attack, but as soon as Nicole LoPresti skated out of the box, the Ridgebacks went down the ice and clapped a shot that gave UOIT a two-goal lead over the Lions.
 
At the mid-way point of the final period the Lions were relentless in their attempt to get back into the hockey game, and it was Stephanie Dovaston (Unionville, Ont.) scoring the second goal for the Lions, assisted by Sarai Whitty (Kingston, Ont.).
 
Unfortunately the late comeback fell short when the final buzzer rang.
 
The Lions are back on the ice Saturday (Oct. 10) when they travel to Kingston, Ont., to take on the Queen's Gaels at 7:30pm at the Kingston Memorial Centre.