A four-goal second period propelled the No. 10 nationally ranked York University Lions women's hockey team to a victory in the opening contest of their OUA playoff series against the Waterloo Warriors.
 
Two of those goals came 54 seconds apart in a crucial second period, and would be all third-seed York needed to kick off the playoffs on a good note and take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three first round matchup.
 
The game got off to a slow start offensively, but the scoresheet filled with penalties in the opening period. The Lions penalty kill was perfect in the opening frame, going 4-for-4 against the Waterloo power play. That included a 90-second 5-on-3 that bled into the second period. 
 
While York's defending kept the Warriors off the board, their penalty killing kept them from registering any goals in the opening period as well.
 
But that would change early in the second period. Kara Washer opened the game's scoring at 3:43 of the second with a snap shot that beat Mikayla Schnarr from the slot. York added a second goal moments later from Ava Ricker-Singh, then two more just 54 seconds apart in the latter half of the frame, off the sticks of Sarah Power and Becky Higgs.
 
York locked it down in the third period, not allowing any significant Waterloo scoring opportunities and keeping a healthy lead over the Warriors. Their defensive focus led to just four shots in the period, but they also only allowed four from Waterloo. Higgs then added her second of the game on an empty netter at 18:30 of the final frame.
 
The two teams will now travel to Waterloo, Ont., to resume this first round series Friday night at Columbia Ice Field. Puck drop is set for 7pm.