The Windsor Lancers women's hockey team split their weekend series against the Guelph Gryphons at the Capri Pizzeria Recreation Complex in Windsor. The Lancers lost 4-1 on Friday night before rebounding to win 3-2 in overtime on Saturday.
 
Heading into the weekend, the Lancers were riding a six-game winning streak and are now 8-3-1-0 on the year. 
 
FRIDAY
Keana McKibbin scored the lone Lancer goal while Jack Latham picked up the credited assist on the third period powerplay marker.  Kristin Swiatoschik turned away 13 shots faced in the loss to Guelph. 
 
Guelph's goal scorers were Sydnie Miller, Avery Peer, Abby Davies, and Rylee Davison.
 
GAME FLOW
In the first period Gryphons got on the board very early in the game when Miller netted hatched the goose egg on the board to give the Gryphons the go-ahead goal at 1:45 into the game.  The 1-0 lead would stand pat for a while as neither team failed to score another goal until the third period. 
 
With a scoreless second period, the goaltending from both sides put up challenges for both teams to score. This led to energy shifting into the third period proving to be the most exciting with the Lancers getting on the board with McKibbin's powerplay goal being quickly slid in at 9 seconds into the third frame to even things up at 1-1.  However, the Gryphons would regain their lead at 3:10 of the third when Peer was able to solve Swiatoschik and put her team up 2-1. 
 
Later at 13:23, Davies would dampen the hopes of the Lancers coming back again in this game notching in her goal to put Guelph up 3-1.  Then at 18:53 the dagger goal from Davison made its way down the ice into an empty Lancer net to seal the deal for the Guelph Gryphons.
 
SATURDAY
Jaden Cherry led the team with two goals, including the game winner in overtime, while Kristen Swiatoschik made 24 saves. Windsor also outshot the Gryphons 25-29.
 
Both Gryphon goals were scored by Maya Graham.
 
GAME FLOW
The first period saw the Gryphons jump out to an early lead as Maya Graham went on the attack scoring two quick goals in the first seven minutes on Lancer starting goaltender Holly Borrett. After Graham's second, Lancer head coach Deanna Iwanicka pulled Borrett and put Swiatoschik in net. On a good rush off of a faceoff, Jaden Cherry took to puck and raced into the offensive zone but could not convert. Finally, with just under six minutes left in the opening frame, Cherry responded for the blue and gold scoring on Gryphon goaltender Martina Fedel to bring the game within one heading into the second period.
 
After a scoreless second period that saw multiple scoring opportunities for both teams, the blue and gold came into the third looking for the equalizer. With just over three minutes remaining in regulation, Windsor was given a golden powerplay opportunity after Gryphon Sydnie Miler was called for tripping. Keana McKibbin was finally rewarded for her solid play and tied the game at 16:42.
 
In overtime, Maggie Peterson, Jessica Legault, McKibbin, and Cherry started for the blue and gold. Cherry finished off an impressive game with the game winning goal less than two minutes in to claim the 3-2 victory over the Gryphons on home ice.
 
UP NEXT
Windsor will head to Toronto to close out the first half of the season with a pair of games against the Toronto Varsity Blues and York Lions. The puck drops on Friday, December 2nd at Varsity Arena at 7:30pm and can be seen live at oua.tv.