The York University Lions women's hockey team made the trip to the nation's capital on Friday night to begin a back-to-back set against Ottawa-based opponents, beginning with the Carleton Ravens.
The Lions came into this one 4-2 on the season, looking to bounce back from a 4-1 loss to the Brock Badgers on Saturday. York came in sitting tied for third with the idle Brock Badgers for third in the OUA West, a point up on the Laurier Golden Hawks. The Ravens, meanwhile, entered play in the cellar in the East division, and still without a regulation win to their name thus far on the season.
Goals were tough to come by in this one, with goaltenders Emma Wedgewood and Kaitlyn Langille each playing well early. The Lions outshot Carleton 11-7 in the opening 20 minutes, but Langille turned aside all 11 of those shots, keeping it scoreless after one.
The second period saw Carleton control more of the play, outshooting York 9-5 in the middle frame. However, that's where Wedgewood came up big to keep her team on even terms, turning aside all nine shots directed her way in the second. The shots were even at 16, with still no scoring to report after 40.
In the third, the Lions were able to respond from a down second period and generate multiple scoring chances. They fired 13 shots the way of Langille in the third, compared to just 5 for the Ravens, but Langille kept the Lions at bay, and guaranteed her team a point, getting the game to overtime still scoreless.
In the extra frame, Wedgewood made likely her best – and most important – save of the night. Carleton's Erica Buckley toe-dragged around Mikayla Totten and cut to the net, but Wedgewood stayed with her and made the save. Then, just 30 seconds later, Lola Massey took a stretch pass at centre from Dielle Hall Paradis, turned to handle the puck and broke in alone on Langille, and beat her blocker side for her third of the year to give the Lions the 1-0 OT win in the first leg of their Ottawa road trip.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Lions will continue their trip through the nation's capital Saturday afternoon when they battle the Ottawa Gee-Gees. Puck drop is 4:00 pm, live on OUA.tv.
