The No. 10 nationally ranked York University Lions women's hockey team moved back into second place in the OUA standings with a big 5-2 victory over the Guelph Gryphons at Canlan Ice Sports on Friday night.
 
The win was York's first over the Gryphons in nine outings and gave the Lions an important three points as they fight for playoff positioning. The Lions controlled play for large stretches of the game and outshot the Gryphons 32-22 overall, including 12-6 in the third period when the Gryphons were trying to climb back into the contest.
 
An even first period ended with the Lions leading 1-0 after a goal by Ellen Donaldson at 14:22 accounted for the only scoring of the frame.
 
The Lions blew the game wide open early in the second with a trio of goals before the mid-point of the period. Brooke Anderson got it started just 1:12 in with a power play goal, and three minutes later Taylor Coward increased the lead to three with her tally. Anderson was at it again at 8:46 to give the Lions a 4-0 advantage.
 
Guelph finally got on the board late in the period when Madison Melo scored to cut the deficit to three.
 
The Gryphons pulled closer at the 8:02 mark of the third on a power play goal by Gabrielle Smyth, but four minutes later a power play tally by Kelsey McHolm stretched the lead to three once again and the Lions cruised to the end.
 
While most of the teams around them still have multiple games remaining, the Lions are done for the week and will close out the regular season next Saturday with their regular-season finale against the Laurier Golden Hawks at Canlan Ice Sports.