The York University Lions women's hockey team made the trip to Waterloo to begin a critical two-game trip in the Region this weekend, looking to soldify their spot in the OUA West playoff picture

First on the docket, the Waterloo Warriors in a rematch of last spring's OUA semi-final which saw the Lions win the opener 3-2 thanks to a sterling 37-save showing from Emma Wedgewood. York was looking for an encore from the third-year netminder against the U SPORTS championship-host Warriors on Friday night.

Seven points behind the Windsor Lancers for the fourth playoff spot in the OUA West, points – and wins – are a must for York as they look to return to the dance for the second consecutive year.

The first half of the opening period was evenly matched, with Waterloo outshooting York 6-4. The Warriors put on some extended pressure thanks in part to a power play on a Lola Massey tripping call, but the OUA's top penalty kill staved off the infraction. Waterloo outshot the Lions 18-8 in the first, but Wedgewood turned aside all 18 to keep it scoreless after one.

The Warriors kept up the pressure in the middle frame. They had a 3-on-1 in the first two minutes of the second, but couldn't execute the play as the puck rolled harmlessly onto Wedgewood. The Lions took three penalties in the second, including a head checking double-minor. However, the Warriors took one of their own to negate two minutes of the York infraction.

After they got back on the power play, the Warriors' Keiara Raitt made a gorgeous move to get in alone on Wedgewood but rolled it just wide. Moments later, Ava Ricker-Singh stole a puck up top and was in on a breakway the other way, but Kara Mark was equal to the task, denying York's best chance of the night. The game remained scoreless through 40.

The tie, though, was quickly broken 29 seconds into the third. An Erika Porter point shot was stopped, but the rebound bounced right to Nikki McDonald on the doorstep to give Waterloo the lead. 

The Lions struggled to generate much offence in the third, held to just 10 shots, and no great scoring chances. The Warriors doubled their lead on a Lyndsy Acheson centring pass that went off a Lion and in to make it 2-0 and a Leah Herrfort empty netter iced it with 40 seconds to go as the Warriors blanked the Lions 3-0.

LOOKING AHEAD: 

The Lions will stay in Waterloo to battle the Laurier Golden Hawks on Saturday night at 7:00 pm. The Lions remain in a play-in position in the West. They're six points up on the Brock Badgers for the West division play-in spot.