After concluding the 2024 calendar year at 4-8-1-1 and eight points out of the final playoff spot in the OUA West, the York University Lions women's hockey team returned to Canlan Ice Sports on Sunday afternoon to open the 2025 portion of their schedule against the Brock Badgers. This game was the last of a five-game homestand that overlapped with the exam break. Both teams came into the contest in close proximity in the standings, with Brock sitting sixth and York just behind in seventh, setting the stage for a pivotal showdown between two times fighting to find their way back into the playoff picture.
The opening two periods were marked by a defensive stronghold, as both teams were kept off the board through 40 minutes. York narrowly outshot Brock 10-8 in the first period, while Brock held an 8-3 edge on the shot clock in the middle frame. York goaltender Emma Wedgewood was solid between the pipes, keeping her team in contention heading into the final 20.
The deadlock was finally broken early in the third period when Brock's Randyll Strongman scored at 4:47, her third goal of the season, assisted by Marisa Freeman. The goal gave the Badgers a 1-0 lead and shifted the momentum in their favor.
The Badgers did a solid job protecting the lead for most of the period, but the Lions didn't go away. With just 1:02 remaining in regulation, the Lions got the equalizer they desperately needed. Off a scramble at the side of the net, Abbey McMillan curled in behind the goal before sending it out front to Ava Ricker-Singh, who put home the equalizer —her fourth of the season — with Trynity Turner drawing the other assist. That sent the home crowd into a frenzy and sent the game to overtime.
The Lions carried their momentum into the extra frame and wasted no time putting the game to bed. Just 16 seconds into OT, Natasha Lange scored her third goal of the season, taking a centring feed from Ricker-Singh, who took the puck off the side boards at centre down into the Badger zone and authored some great work in the corner to set up Lange for the winner The goal not only secured a thrilling 2-1 victory for York but also delivered an electrifying start to 2025, bringing the Lions to within two regulation wins of the final OUA West playoff berth.
York outshot Brock 23-20 in the game, including a 9-4 edge in the third period when the Lions ramped up their attack. Wedgewood was solid in net, turning aside 19 of 20 shots to earn the win. On special teams, York successfully killed all four of Brock's power plays, while unsuccessful on their lone power play opportunity
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With the win, the Lions improve to 5th position on the OUA West standing and close the gap in the playoff race. They'll head to Kingston next to face the Queen's Gaels on Friday night, with puck drop scheduled for 7:30 pm. Coverage will be available on OUA TV.
