The Lancer women's hockey team opened the 2022-23 season with a pair of losses at home to the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks and Queen's Gaels.
 
Windsor fell 6-3 on Friday night to the Ridgebacks and 2-1 on Saturday to Queen's.
 
FRIDAY
Lancer goaltender Kristen Swiatochik made 18 saves on the night while, Darcee Hall, Jaden Cherry, and Keana McKribbin picked up goals of the blue and gold.
 
The Ontario Tech Ridgeback's goaltender Holly Borrett made a total of 10 saves to help secure the team's win.
 
The Lancers racked up 35 total shots while the Ridgeback made 34 shots on net.
 
GAME FLOW
To start the game, Windsor wasted no time taking shots on net against the Ridgebacks. Later in the first period, Darcee Hall was able to get her first goal of the season and get the Lancers first up on the board. The Ridgebacks got on the board before the end of period to tie the game at one heading into intermission.
 
All it took was three minutes for the blue and gold to make plays on the offensive side with a goal by Jaden Cherry. To defend their territory on home ice, contact between players increased the tension yet no calls were made. However, after Ontario Tech drew a penalty, a 4-minute powerplay would get the best of the Lancers as 2 goals were made within a minute and Windsor was left at a 2-goal deficit with one last period to go.
 
The Ridgebacks continued to add onto their scoring streak with 2 more goals as the Lancers would try to find last minute openings. Although Keana McKibbon got one last goal with minutes remaining in regulation, it would not be enough for Windsor to find the net again. In the end, the Lancers dropped a 6-3 game.
 
SATURDAY
Elissa Benjamin led the Lancers offensively with a move of her own in a penalty shot while, goalie Holly Borrett made 34 total saves to keep the Gaels out.
 
Alyson Reeves scored a goal to get Queen's on the board first and Vanessa Campeau had a stellar performance with 29 saves.
 
GAME FLOW
The Lancers started the game out with lots of energy looking to rebound back from Friday's loss against the Ridgebacks. Cherry got out first as her shot was blocked off the blocker of Queen's goalie Vanessa Campeau. As the Gaels could sense the tension, they picked up the pace to keep up with the offensive and defense moves being made. Both teams had several battles along the wall for the puck, yet no one was able to find a scoring opportunity and the game was deadlocked at zero after the first period.
 
In the second period, Windsor looked to complete their passes as their seemed to be some miscommunication and chances to make an offensive play. Reeves shoots past Campeau that has no chance to deflect the puck and Queen's makes their mark first, 1-0 over the Lancers. Both forward's Jessica Gribbon and Keana McKibbin skate to push back against the Gaels with close shots yet Campeau remains grounded in her defense. The Lancers look to score heading into the final period, behind 1-0.
 
The last period had the blue and gold pick up their intensity with time of the essence to score. After Devan Andrusak heads into the boards, Windsor receives a chance at a penalty shot. Down the ice, Elissa Benjamin moves with her stick on the puck and finally gets past Vanessa Campeau to tie the game up, 1-1. The two squads fought hard for the puck but no other moves were made to break the tie and the Lancers took a 1-1 draw against the Gaels.
 
UP NEXT
The Lancers will travel to North Bay on Friday October 28th, to visit the Nipissing Lakers when the puck is set to drop at 7:00pm. The game can be seen live at www.oua.tv.