The York University Lions women's hockey team came out strong in the opening period but then gave up four unanswered goals in a 4-1 loss to the visiting Western Mustangs at Canlan Ice Sports on Sunday afternoon.
 
In the first period the Lions played with high energy and created a lot of scoring chances. The shot attempts paid off when, at 10:41, Rianna Langford (Collingwood, Ont.) received a pass from Dana Somerville (Hockley, Ont.) and Amy Locke (Toronto, Ont.). As Langford gained control in front of the net she finished the play with a quick chip shot to beat Western goaltender Shelby Ryan. York's 1-0 lead would be maintained through the entire first period.
 
Penalty trouble in the second period forced a power play for the Mustangs, who would capitalize on it immediately. Straight off of the faceoff in York's zone the Mustangs fired a quick shot to the net. The ensuing scrum of slashing sticks would eventually knock the puck in to tie the game, with the goal credited to Brianna Iazzolino.
 
Just minutes later the Mustangs would score again, this time from a wrist shot from the top of the circle by Lyndsay Kirkham. The period would close out with the Mustangs capturing a 2-1 lead.
 
Entering the final period of play tensions and emotions began to rise. Once again on the power play, the Mustangs advanced the puck into York's zone and Alyssa Chiarello fired a wrist shot from the circle. With York goalie Lauren Dubie (London, Ont.) being effectively screened, the puck made its way to the back of the net with ease.
 
Needing an extra boost on their offensive attack with time winding down, the Lions pulled Dubie to get an extra potential scorer on the ice. The Lions tried to fire off shots in the slot but were unsuccessful, and eventually the Mustangs intercepted a pass and Evra Levesque fired a long shot which slowly made its way into the empty net to cap off the win.
 
The win dropped the Lions to 3-10-2-4 on the season and they remain 11^th in the OUA standings, while the Mustangs moved into a tie for sixth place with the Waterloo Warriors with 29 points.
 
After a weekend off, the Lions' next game will take place on Saturday, Feb. 4 when they travel to St. Catharines, Ont., to take on the Brock Badgers beginning at 7:15pm.