The York University Lions women's hockey team won its second consecutive home game in a shootout, this time needing 10 rounds to defeat the UOIT Ridgebacks 2-1 on Friday night (Nov. 27) at Canlan Ice Sports.
 
Defender and Jenna Gray (London, Ont.) was the final Lion to partake in the shootout and she did not disappoint, corralling the puck at centre ice and, with a head of speed through the neutral zone, went backhand-forehand and waited out UOIT goaltender Tori Campbell until there was gaping hole near the post before proceeding to slide the puck into the open cage.
 
The first and second periods of the game were controlled for the most part by the Ridgebacks on Friday night, as they were firing from all angels on Lions goaltender and OUA and CIS female athlete of the week Megan Lee (Orillia, Ont.).
 
After going down by a goal early in the first period, the Lions began to move the puck effectively and produce quality scoring chances. They tied the game with 22 seconds remaining in the first period from a wraparound chance that had the puck sitting in the crease for a good two seconds before Kristen Barbara (Mount Hope, Ont.) poked the puck across the goal line to level the score at 1-1.
 
The third period was played with an emphasis on mistake-free hockey as both teams had a limited offensive attack which sent the contest into overtime. In the extra frames, both the 4-on-4 and 3-on-3, the Lions nor the Ridgebacks could end it and the skills competition was then necessary.
 
Dana Somerville (Hockley, Ont.) opened the scoring in the shootout as she beat Campbell low to give the Lions the advantage.
 
After the Ridgebacks beat Lee blocker side and multiple Lions couldn't find the back of the net, it was Tegan Duncan (Oakville, Ont.) who managed to break the tie in the shootout as she patiently dangled Campbell for the goal. The Ridgebacks came storming back, however, as Nicole LoPresti launched a shot from the hash marks that trickled by Lee to once again tie the shootout, before Gray stepped up and heroically ended the game to give the Lions their fifth win of the season.
 
Lee was phenomenal once again for the Lions between the pipes as she turned aside 27 shots in regulation to go with her impressive performance in overtime and the shootout.
 
The Lions are back on the ice on Sunday (Nov. 29) when they travel to Waterloo, Ont., to take on the Laurier Golden Hawks for their last game of 2015. The Lions record after Friday night's win is 3-2-5-1, and they will look to extend their winning streak against the Golden Hawks who are 5-0-4-1 on the season.