The York University Lions women's hockey team will look for their first win of the season as they face a tough test in the No. 10 nationally ranked Nipissing Lakers.
 
The Match-up: York (0-2-0) vs. No. 10 Nipissing (2-0-0)
 
Game Details
Friday, Nov. 12 @ 4pm at Nipissing, OUA.tv
Sunday, Nov. 14 @ 2:15pm at York, OUA.tv
 
Last Meeting
While this is the first tilt between the two teams, the Lakers will head into Canlan looking to exact some revenge on the Lions after last year's OUA semifinal playoff series between the two teams. York won the best-of-three series in a two-game sweep, finishing the series off on home ice. The win propelled them to a berth in the U SPORTS national championship for the first time in program history, and put them into an OUA championship game they eventually lost to the Toronto Varsity Blues.
 
QUICK FACTS
 
York

• Courtney Gardiner and Sydney Paulson had the goals for the Lions in their most recent contest against the Rams, which resulted in a 4-2 defeat. It was Paulson's first-career OUA goal.
• Julianna Thomson made her second appearance of the season in that most recent contest against the Rams, and has proven to be a bright spot on this Lions team making 33 saves. In her two appearances, Thomson has already made 70 saves. It's good enough for an .897 save percentage.
• The team's foundation is headlined by two unmistakable leaders in Kelsey McHolm and Gardiner, who will co-captain the team. They finished third and fourth, respectively, in team scoring in 2019-20 and will be the offensive leaders this season. They'll lead 14 new players who make up a double cohort of first-year players.

Nipissing

• The Lakers return a high number of players from their 2019-20 squad that made the playoffs with an 18-9-1 record. They only have seven rookies this year, and three veteran difference-makers.
• Maria Dominico, Brianna Gaffney and Katelyn Heppner all return to the team's offence. Dominico was the team's leading scorer in 2019-20 with 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in 23 games, while Gaffney and Heppner were in the top five.
• Nipissing's first two games of the year came on the road in Kingston, Ont., against the Queen's Gaels, where they took both games. Gaffney's two goals leads the team to this point of the season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

York

Madison Davey: Fourth-year forward … One of three Lions to score to this point of the season, getting on the board in a 4-1 loss to the Rams on Nov. 5 … Also had an assist on Oct. 22 vs. Brock … Good on draws, a physically dominant two-way player … Participated in hockey and track and field at St. Michael's … Won back-to-back OFSAA championships in 2015 and 2016.
 
Sydney Paulson: First-year forward … Had one of two Lions goals in a 4-2 loss to the Rams on Nov. 7 … Also had two goals versus Brock in a preseason game on Oct. 22 … Scored 11 points in 38 games with the PWHL's Central York Panthers in 2019-20.
 
Nipissing
 
Maria Dominico: Fifth year forward … Had a goal in a 4-1 win over Queen's last weekend … Was the Lakers leading scorer in 2019-20 with 23 points over 20 games … Was the finalist for the OUA's women's hockey cover vote this season …