Following a 5-2 loss against the Nipissing Lakers last night, the York University Lions women's hockey team was in search of their first victory of the new season. They got just what the doctor ordered, with a decisive 4-0 victory against the Laurier Golden Hawks on Saturday afternoon at the Sun Life Financial Arena.
Jennifer Shaw, Alexa Giantsopoulos, and Emma Wedgewood all had huge games in this one, with Shaw and Giantsopoulos scoring their first career OUA goals and Wedgewood earning her first career OUA shutout.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Both squads engaged in a tight contest to start the game, exchanging great scoring opportunities. The Lions took the upper hand in shots, outshooting Laurier 11-8. However, neither team was able to convert any of their attempts in the first period.
- The second period was a dominant one for York, as the Lions potted three goals, all three within a six-minute time span.
- Shaw started it off as she put the Lions on the board on a sharp-angled one-timer only seven seconds into a power play to make it 1-0.
- Lola Massey followed suit and fired a quick turnaround shot off a Sydney Paulson pass to catch the Golden Hawks netminder, Victoria Kelaiditis napping and extend the Lions lead to 2-0.
- With 14 seconds left in the second period, Giantsopoulos found herself in the right position at the right time to take advantage of a loose puck to put it past Kelaiditis. That put the Lions firmly in control, up 3-0 after 40.
- Laurier had some opportunities in the final frame but were unable to put one past Wedgewood.
- Midway through the period, Julia Cucci took advantage of a broken play on one end and put home a rebound at the other to make it a York 4-0 lead. The red and whites were able to hold off the Hawks en route to a 4-0 victory.
- Wedgewood, Innisfil, Ont. native, made her OUA debut for York, stopping all 28 shots that were fired her way.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Lions head home where they familiarize themselves with another Western Division opponent when they host the Western Mustangs on Friday, Oct. 28 at Canlan Ice Sports. The puck drop is scheduled for 7:15pm.
