The Lancers women's hockey team made their long-awaited return to the ice Friday as they hosted the Brock Badgers at the Capri Pizzeria Recreation Complex. The blue and gold played with a great level of tenacity, yet fell to the Badgers 3-2.
 
STATS
Emily Eikelboom and Rorie Ringers each scored their first Lancer and OUA career goal in the season debut.
 
Kristen Swiatochik made 16 saves in net for Windsor while Badgers goaltender Aline Hironaka had 31saves in net for the Badgers to earn the win.
 
GAME FLOW
The Lancers came out on the attack from the minute the puck dropped. The Lancers went on the power play six minutes into the game and Paige McArthur and Maggi DeWolf-Russ were a continuous presence during the man advantage. However, it was the Badgers that would strike first as Emma Irwin scored unassisted to put the visitors on the board. Brock would respond with another goal with four minutes left in the period on the power play to take a 2-0 lead heading into the break.
 
The Lancers came out of the intermission with a sense of controlled aggressiveness as they continued to search for a goal. Five minutes into the period Ashley Maitre showed her defensive ability by getting back and stopping a potentially dangerous situation that would've given Brock a 2-on-1 with Swiatochik. However, the Lancer goaltender made an incredible save that got the fans in the CPRC on their feet, giving the blue and gold energy. Emily Eikelboom took advantage of this momentum as she scored a stellar goal midway through the period to cut down the Badgers lead in half. The period would end with the Badgers still up 3-1, after another power play goal at 15:37.  
         
To start the period, the Lancers were immediately gifted a power play that led to a lot of chances, but nothing seemed to want to hit the back of the net. With only five minutes left to play Ringor scored a beautiful goal that was assisted by Abigail Campbell to once again cut down the Badgers lead. This however would be the last goal of the game with the Badgers winning 3-2.
 
UP NEXT
Windsor and Brock will face off again on Saturday afternoon in game two of the weekend doubleheader. Puck drop is scheduled for 4:00pm at the CPRC, and the game can also be seen live at oua.tv.