After clinching their first playoff berth since before the pandemic on Thursday night with a win over the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks, Friday's season finale against the Queen's Gaels served as a final tune-up for the York University Lions women's hockey team before the postseason begins in North Bay next week.

The Lions honoured their eight graduating players in a pre-game ceremony, family and friends of the graduates joining them to celebrate their hard-earned accomplishment. Among those to walk the red carpet: Taylor Coward, Julia Cuccia, Olivia DeCiantis, Sydney Hiltz, Abby Hooper, Sydney Paulson, and the Ricker-Singh sisters, Ilena and captain Ava.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Lions had the first early chance in the game's opening two minutes. Jen Shaw gained the zone with speed on the far side and centred for Natalie Mamone, but she was robbed by Queen's netminder Alexis Jandicu.
• Moments later, off a turnover in the York zone, the Gaels got a lucky one. A backhand by Scout Watkins-Southward was juggled by Dominique Chuaqui, and Sarah Campbell was there to bang home the loose puck to give the visitors a 1-0 lead just 2:39 in. Despite some great scoring opportunities for both teams over the remainder of the period, the Gaels took that one-goal lead to the locker room after 20.
• In the second stanza, the Lions continued their push for the equalizer, put couldn't beat a solid-looking Jandicu. After some furious offensive zone pressure late in the period, York drew a power play but couldn't capitalize. They got another one late in the second, but Queen's was equal to the task once again, and maintained a 1-0 lead through two.
• Just under six minutes into the third, the Gaels were the beneficiaries of another lucky bounce, as a shot from Kennedy McAlpine was blocked by a sprawling Alexa Giantsopoulos, sending the puck high off the end glass. Unfortunately for the Lions, the rebound came right back to the side of the net, where Allison Reaves was waiting to bury it and give Queen's a 2-0 lead.
• However, the home side wasn't done just yet. On a goal that was essentially a carbon copy of her game-winner early in the second period on Thursday, Giantsopoulos took a stretch pass – this time from Ava Ricker-Singh – walked down the far side and hammered it home. That secured the team goal scoring title for the Markham, Ont. native, and cut the Queen's lead in half.
• However, despite two more third period power plays, the Lions were unable to get back on level terms, and the Gaels hung on for a 2-1 victory.

LOOKING AHEAD:

The Lions now wait for their playoff schedule to be unveiled for their best-of-3 series with the Nipissing Lakers, which will begin next week. Check yorkulions.ca for schedule updates.