The York University Lions women's hockey team took the ice Wednesday morning to open their 2024-25 campaign, taking the short trip downtown to face off against the TMU Bold. Coming off an unexpected playoff run last season the Lions looked to build upon the success they achieved throughout the 2023-24 season. Team captain Ava Ricker Singh led the Lions out as she returns for one final season in red and white. 

The Lions took an early penalty and paid the price, as Ahalya Julien-Medeiros fired one top corner on Emma Wedgewood to make it 1-0 Bold. However, the Lions held strong against TMU's second power play of the period, and, later, drew a penalty of their own, but were not able to convert. Shortly after, however, the Lions tied the game off a rebound from a Natalie Mamone shot. The first whack from Natasha Lange was stopped, but Sydney Hiltz fired home the second for her first – and her team's first – of the season.  

Right before the end of the period, the Lions forced another power play off a Dayle Chinnick tripping penalty, which led to Mikayla Totten's first OUA goal. Totten got a puck on a tee after a Kaitlin Teixeira shot was blocked, and she made no mistake to put York up 2-1 after one. York also outshot TMU 12-9 in the opening period of the season. Turner.  

TMU tied the game at two apiece a minute into the second period thanks to captain Emily Baxter, who ripped one past Wedgewood for her first of the year. The  pace became tighter and more physical as the period went on, and the game remained deadlocked at 2, after two. 

The third period showcased twenty minutes of fast paced, hard-fought hockey. TMU earned a power play with five minutes left in regulation, but the Lions managed to kill it off, and were able to take the game down to the wire. However, a last minute push by the Bold saw a shot by Payton Kerr glance off the blocker of Wedgewood and trickle by, stunning the Lions and putting TMU up 3-2 with just 45 seconds left to play. Even with the extra attacker, the Lions could not find the equalizer, as TMU held off the Lions to seal a 3-2 win. 

LOOKING AHEAD: 

The Lions will return to action Saturday looking to bounce back against the Nipissing Lakers in a rematch of last year's epic Round 1 playoff series in their home opener. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00pm, with coverage on OUA TV.