ARPAN KAUR // yorkulions.ca

The York University Lions women's hockey team hit the ice Friday night for the first time this year after a long pause to the season at Canlan Ice Sports. The Lions came in determined to secure their second win of the season, and they did just that with a spectacular overtime goal by Kelsey McHolm, giving the Lions a much-needed 4-3 victory over the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks. 

The Lions' victory over the Ridgebacks improves their record to 1-1-6-1 on the season and pulls them to within one point of Ontario Tech in the OUA East standings.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Ridgebacks forward Mackenzie Krasowski wasted no time in putting the Ridgebacks on the board with a 1-0 lead at 1:01. 
• Not long after, Brooke Anderson responded with a sniper past Ridgebacks netminder Zoe McGee, from assists by Courtney Gardiner and McHolm, at 6:44.  
• The tension between the two teams remained throughout the first period, however, Anderson and Gardiner found McHolm at the right time and in the perfect position to give the Lions a 2-1 lead right before the first intermission.  
• The second period commenced with excellent looks in the offensive end for the Lions, which eventually paid off with a goal from Julia Cuccia at 5:24.  
• Minutes before the second period buzzer, Nicole Escano cut the Ridgebacks deficit to 3-2 as she found her way past the Lions defensive wall at 16:54. 
• Blaire Allison tied it up 3-3 for the Ridgebacks in the third period, forcing the game to overtime. 
• It was all reds and whites in overtime and McHolm did not disappoint the boisterous crowd, as she scored the game-winner past McGee on another pass by Gardiner.  

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• Serena Vilde made an incredible 35 saves, while protecting the home ice for 62:26 minutes. 
• McHolm had herself a night with 2 big goals, including the game winner, and an assist. 
• Anderson also had a multi-point night with one goal and one assist.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

"The resilience was definitely there today, especially after such a long time since we've played a game. I was really pleased with the energy we had and how we kept fighting even when things were going against us. They really wanted to get that win tonight."
      - York Lions Head Coach Dan Church  

LOOKING AHEAD

The Lions will head over to Oshawa, Ont., to complete the home-and-home series with the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks on Feb. 12 at the Campus Ice Centre. The puck drop is scheduled for 7pm.