Led by a hat trick from OUA leading scorer Erinn Noseworthy, the University of Windsor women's hockey team defeated the Nipissing Lakers 5-3 on Friday night at South Windsor Arena.
 
With the win, the Lancers improve to 5-9-1-1 on the year, while the Lakers fall to 8-5-1-4. 
 
Windsor got things started with a power play goal by Rachel Chantler at 5:55 of the first period. Assists were credited to Krystin Lawrence and Shailyn Waites. The Lakers did not take long to reply  and scored at 7:45, when Kaitlyn McManus accepted a pass from Bronwyn Buldoc and Natalie Graham.
 
Windsor regained the lead late in the first at 18:03 with Larissa Boworiec's third goal of the season, to give the Lancers a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission. 
 
The Lancers extended their lead at 4:09 of the second on a individual effort by captain Erinn Noseworthy. Noseworthy scored her second of the game less than two minutes later to take a 4-1 lead with 14 minute remaining in the middle frame.  Nipissing would cut the lead to two at 19:30 with a goal from Kaley Tienhaara.
 
Noseworthy would score her ninth of the season on the power play and complete the hat trick at 15:47 of the final period to give Windsor a 5-2 lead. The Lakers pulled goaltender Sabrina Picard for the final 3:36 of the period in favour of the extra man. With the advantage, the Lakers were only able to get one past Lancer goaltender Ingrid Sandven with a goal from Buldoc at 17:22, as the Blue & Gold held on for the win. 
 
Heading into tomorrow's game against the Laurentian Voyageurs at 4:00pm at South Windsor Arena, the Lancers hold the top three spots in league scoring. Noseworthy leads all scorers with 22 points, while Lawrence is right behind her with 21 points and Shawna Lesperance has 18. Noseworthy and Lawrence are tied for the top spot in assists with 13 each, while Lesperance leads the way in goals with 11.