In a game that was originally scheduled for Saturday but postponed due to weather-related transportation issues, the York University Lions hosted the Nipissing Lakers on Sunday afternoon.

This was the second meeting of the weekend between the two teams and second of four over the season's final 12 games. The Lakers took the opener of the weekend series Friday in North Bay in overtime, and the Lions were looking for a win that would creep them to within four points of the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks (with a game in hand and a meeting remaining) for the fourth and final OUA East playoff spot.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Lions took the lead late in the opening period courtesy of a turnover by the Lakers. A long outlet pass down the middle from behind the Nipissing net was picked off by Julianna Duma at centre, and she blazed into the zone with speed all alone on Laker netminder Chantel Sandquist. Duma made no mistake, as her quick release high glove on Sanquist gave York a 1-0 lead with just over 5:00 to go in the first.
• The Lakers drew even off a fortunate break of their own. A clearing attempt took a funny hop on the Lions defender which led to a two-on-one. Madison Desmarais sent Abby Lunney in solo; her initial shot was stopped by Emma Wedgewood, but she was right there to slip the rebound into the empty cage and tie the game just under 6:00 into the second. 
• A little over eight minutes later, however, the Lions went back on top. On what seemed like an innocent-looking play along the wall, the puck popped out to Kaitlyn Teixeira, and her shot from just above the faceoff dot beat Sandquist to make it 2-1 Lions, a lead they carried into the third.
• York started the third on the power play, and, just as it expired, they added to their lead. A rush up the ice ended up on the near side, where Teixeira dropped it to the point for Jillian Milligan. Her shot through a screen eluded Sandquist, who was struggling to find it, and gave the hosts a 3-1 lead.
• Despite being outshot in all three periods, including by six in the third, the Lions were able to lock it down thanks in no small part to Wedgewood. Her 35 stops were tied for the second-most she's made this season, as the Lions took this one 3-1. With the win – their second over Nipissing in as many years – the Lions earn four of a possible six points over their Northern nemeses. They now sit at 16 points and draw within four of the Ridgebacks for that final playoff spot in the OUA East.

LOOKING AHEAD:

The Lions get set for another important weekend set in their pursuit of a playoff spot, this one against the Queen's Gaels. The teams will meet on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon in Kingston. Saturday's game begins at 7:30 pm, while Sunday is a 2:30 puck drop.