With the 2022-23 OUA season nearing an end, the York University Lions women's hockey team was looking to wrap up the home portion of their season on a high note against the Ontario Tech Ridgeback. They did just that with a 3-1 victory Friday night at Canlan Ice Sports.
Prior to the final regular season home game, the Lions hosted their annual Senior Night ceremony, honouring this year's five graduating athletes: captain Brooke Anderson, goalies Juliana Thomson and Serena Vilde, and defenders Illena Ricker-Singh and Julia McLennan.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Lions established control of the game early, with a pair of power plays in the opening five minutes. However, the Ridgebacks managed to escape unscathed and keep it a scoreless contest after the first 20 minutes.
- Just moments after a 5-on-3 advantage for the Ridgebacks expired early in the second, Nicole Escano found an opening and snapped one past Thomson on the 5-on-4 to make it 1-0 Ridgebacks. .
- Just over a minute after Escano's goal, the senior, Mclennan found the rookie, Alexa Giantsopoulos in a prime scoring area. She beat Zoe McGee for the Lions first goal against Ontario Tech this season in more than seven periods. Her fourth of the campaign tied the game at 1-1..
- After outshooting the Ridgebacks 8-4 in the period, Giantsopoulos once again put her skills on display, as she single-handedly created some room and backhanded one by McGee and make it a 2-1 contest at with just over three minutes left in the second
- While 4-on-4 with less than six minutes left in the final frame, Mclennan put an exclamation mark on her senior night and the game with an insurance marker to make it 3-1. McLennan's first goal in more than three years (Jan. 31, 2020 vs. Nipissing) was enough to cap off the night, a 3-1 victory for the Lions.
- Thomson made 13 saves in the contest, as the Lions outshot the Ridgebacks 23-14.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Lions will look to wrap up their season when they hit the road to take on the Brock Badgers on Saturday night at Canada Games Park. Puck drop is slated for 7pm.
