After an exciting overtime victory against the OUA East leading, Nipissing Lakers, the Lions were looking to face their in town rivals, the TMU Bold and leave with a victory. Stumped by the Bold on the road, York returned to Canlan to host the Laurier Golden Hawks, and an exciting middle frame could not leverage the team a win. In a must win Thursday night game, the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks enter Canlan, sitting just two points behind the Lions who hold the last OUA East playoff spot, before hosting the Queen's Gaels on Friday night in their graduation game.

The Bold have proven to be a tough opponent for the Lions this season, taking all three victories in their meetings during the year. The playoff race became even tighter after York lost on the road 5-0 to TMU, and the Bold won their next match, as they, and the Ridgebacks, now sit just two points behind the Lions. The game was all TMU from opening draw, as they got on the board just six minutes in. Emma Wedgewood did not face much more action the rest of the period only making six saves. Into the middle 20, TMU extended their lead on a power play, before adding another one just minutes later. Rolling their momentum into the final period, TMU added two more security goals and took a 5-0 win.

In a redemption game against the Laurier Golden Hawks who were entering in on a six-game losing streak, the Lions started the game chasing, going down just 31 seconds into the action. Right before the end of the first, the visitors added one more, holding a 2-0 lead at the first intermission. Laurier took a 3-0 lead, and a goalie change for York saw Dominique Chuaqui bring some energy to the Lions. Sydney Paulson scored her fourth goal of the season, and just minutes later Julianna Duma got York within one, 3-2. After an exciting second period, the third went back into the hands of Laurier, who scored three more to take a 6-2 victory.
 

The Match-up:

Feb. 15 York (8-18) vs. Ontario Tech Ridgebacks (8-18)

Feb. 16 York (8-18) vs. Queen's Gaels (13-13)

Game Details:

Thu., Feb. 15 vs. Ontario Tech (7:45 pm OUA.tv)
Fri., Feb. 16 vs. Queen's (7:15 pm OUA.tv)

Current Streaks:

York - Loss 2

Ontario Tech - Loss 6

Queen's - Won 1

Quick Facts:

York:

• The Lions 89.6 penalty kill percentage is 4th in the OUA
• Jillian Milligan is tied for 17th in the OUA in assists (10)

Ontario Tech:

• Ontario Tech's 286 PIM is 2nd in the OUA
• Zoe McGee leads the league in saves (692)

Queen's:

• The Gaels are 2nd in the OUA in shots per game (31.8)
• Mikayla Cranney is 9th in the league in goals (9)

Lions to Watch:

#10 SYDNEY PAULSON: Third-year forward... Playing in 24 games this season, she has recorded eight points on four goals and four assists... She recorded her first point on Oct. 20 against Windsor where she had an assist, and has had two back-to-back point games, the first occurring Nov.15-18 with a goal in each game, and the second occurring Jan. 25-27 where she earned a goal against Toronto and an assist against Windsor... She scored the first Lions goal on Feb. 10 against Laurier, tallying her fourth of the season.

#21 JULIANNA DUMA: Third-year forward... In 24 games played this year, she has seven points on three goals and four assists... Her multi-point game of the year occurred on Nov. 3 against the Waterloo Warriors where she tallied two assists, helping the Lions to their first win of the season, 2-1... She scored her first goal of the year on Dec. 1 against Guelph, and earned her third goal on Feb. 10 against the Laurier Golden Hawks.