The York University Lions women's team closed out the 2024 portion of their schedule against the Queen's Gaels Sunday afternoon at Canlan Ice Sports. With the struggling Gaels holding a 2-8-1-2 record, the 4-7-1-1 Lions, who were coming off a strong 3-0 win over Ontario Tech on Friday, looked to close the fall term with a second straight win to move closer to the fourth and final OUA West playoff spot.
Queen's struck first just 70 seconds in, with Sophie Hudson firing a shot past Lions starter Dominique Chuaqui, making it 1-0 Gaels. The lead was extended later in the period by forward Carys Collie, who flicked one past Chuaqui to push it to a 2-0 game. Things took a turn for the worse for the Lions when Alyson Reeves found the five-hole of Chuaqui off a rebound with a minute left in the period. Despite outshooting the visitors 10-7 in the opening frame, the Lions were down 3-0 after 20.
York only generated six shots in the second, but several were of the high-danger variety. However, the Lions were unable to crack the scoreboard. Emma Wedgewood replaced Chuaqui to start the second, stopping all 10 shots she faced. That kept the home side within striking distance, but the Lions remained down 3-0 through two.
Jillian Milligan opened the scoring for the Lions with 5:36 left. Weaving through multiple defenders and burying a shot in the left corner, she brought her squad to within two at 3-1. Controlling the majority of puck poseession after the goal, the Lions had multiple shots on net late in the game, but Queen's goaltender Alexis Jandciu was equal to the task. Head coach Dan Church pulled Wedgewood with 4:35 to go off a Queen's icing, and the Lions had some offensive zone pressure, but could not capitalize. Queen's added an empty-netter with 3:12 to go to make it 4-1 and put it out of reach. Right after the Moments after the Queen's goal, a great individual effort by Alexa Giantsopoulos was finished off by Julianna Duma in front, but that was as close as the Lions would get as Queen's took home a 4-2 win.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Lions conclude the 2024 calendar year at 4-8-1-1 and eight points out of the final playoff spot in the West. York will finish off this five-game homestand that overlaps with the exam break on January 5th, 2025, against the visiting Brock Badgers at Canlan Ice Sports. Puck drop is scheduled for 2:00pm. Coverage will be available on OUA TV.
