On the road for the first game of the OUA semi-finals, the York University Lions women's hockey team faced off against the Waterloo Warriors, a team that they had already defeated twice in regular season, but now with a bigger task at hand. Each team coming off a series sweep, the Lions were quick from the get-go, taking their steam from the Nipissing series win and continuing it into Waterloo to defeat the Warriors 3-2.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The first 10 minutes of the game was fast, both sides bursting with energy on the ice and trying to gain control. It was Sara McLennan who found the back of the net for the Lions just before the midway point of the first period, capitalizing on her own rebound on the Warriors goaltender, Kara Mark.
• Coming into the second period with a 1-0 lead, the Lions were eager to double the lead but the Warriors pushed back, creating a very intense middle frame. Rookie forward, Kaitlin Teixeira burst through the middle of the ice, switching the puck from her forehand to her backhand to break around the Warriors defender, before her backhand missile made its way to the mesh behind Mark.
• Now a 2-0 lead for York, the Warriors did not let the Lions have it for long as they got their first of the game on a power play just two minutes later, heading into the second intermission, 2-1 in favour of the visiting Lions.
• The third period was a whole other level of competition as the Warriors tried to fight their way back into the game, but the defensive side from York held strong. Jillian Milligan extended the Lions lead again from the slot, off a feed from Lexy Anonech to go ahead 3-1. 
• With time winding down, Waterloo was pushing hard and muscled out another power play goal to bring the game back within one, but Emma Wedgewood made 37 saves on the evening and earned a 3-2 road victory.

LOOKING AHEAD:
The Lions and Warriors will head to Canlan Ice Sports on Saturday, Mar. 2, for game two of the OUA semi-finals. The Lions lead the series 1-0; a victory sends them through to the finals, a loss sends the teams back to Waterloo for game three. Puck drops at 7 pm.