Still searching for their first win of the season, the York University Lions women's hockey team took the ice for their second home game of the season Sunday afternoon at Canlan Ice Sports. They were looking to earn that first win against the team that handed them a heartbreaking last-second loss in the season opener: the TMU Bold. 

The Bold poured on the pressure early, but Lions goalie Dominque Chauqui held the Bold off the board, including stopping an early TMU breakaway. This allowed the Lions to open the scoring, off a goal deflected into the net by forward Alexa Giantsopolous, assisted by the ever-present Ava Ricker-Singh and Natalie Mamone.  

TMU struck back seconds later with a goal of their own however, as forward Emma Mcgregor snapped a shot into the top corner to make it a 1-1 game. York went on their first power play with six minutes left in the first after drawing a TMU slashing penalty, but could not find the go-ahead goal. TMU had back-to-back power plays seconds after their kill but the outnumbered Lions defence held strong and kept it 1-1 after one 

Play remained extremely tight in the second, with a similar atmosphere as the season opener the two teams collided in. Chauqui was e spectacular in the second, standing up to strong offensive frenzies from the Bold and keeping the Lions in the game. Near the halfway mark off the second, the Lions Julianna Duma got in behind the TMU defence and found the back of the net to give York the 2-1 lead. The Bold took a major boarding penalty on the play, sending the Lions to another power play. However, two Lions penalties during the major gave TMU a 4-on-3, but York killed it off and, just as the first penalty expired to bring it to 4-on-4 hockey, the Lions extended the lead thanks to Jillian Milligan, who had all kinds of space and put a shot off the right post and in, making it 3-1 York after two. 

Four Lions penalities gave the Bold the advantage for a significant part of the third, but York was and impressive 8-for-8 on the penalty kill, led by none other than Chauqui in net. Her stellar 33-save performance allowed the Lions to walk away with a 3-1 win, and earn a split of their season series with TMU, one game apiece.  

LOOKING AHEAD:  

The Lions will look to get to 500. on the young season as they head back out on the road on Thursday, October 24th against the Guelph Gryphons. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30pm, with coverage on OUA TV.