The University of Windsor Lancers women's hockey team kicked off the OUA regular season on Oct. 10-11 weekend, splitting a pair of games against the Nipissing Lakers and York Lions.

FRIDAY
The Lancers opened their weekend with a trip up to North Bay, Ont. to face the Nipissing Lakers on Friday (Oct. 10) night in their season opener. Windsor fell by a score of 4-2 to last season's OUA East winner.

STATS
Elissa Benjamin and Bridget Cameron both scored for the Lancers, and Rebecca Noble made 18 saves.

Jill Hennessy scored twice for the Lakers, with Carlie Primomo and Lana Duriez adding the other goals. Jordan Sladics made 28 saves between the pipes.

GAME FLOW
The first period saw each team trade goals, with the Lakers opening the scoring eight minutes into the game on a shorthanded goal by Duriez and Cameron responding for Windsor with a minute remaining in the frame.

The second period saw no change in score, as the teams battled in hopes of breaking the deadlock. Windsor had eight shots in the period while Nipissing had seven, and the Lancers killed off two penalties in the process.

Nipissing pulled ahead 51 seconds into the third period with a power-play goal by Primomo, and Hennessy scored her first of two just two minutes later. Windsor responded on a goal by Benjamin with five minutes remaining, but an empty netter by Hennessy sealed the deal, giving Nipissing a 4-2 Friday night win.
 

SATURDAY
The Lancers traveled to Toronto, Ont. to face the York Lions on Saturday, Oct. 11 and came away with their first win of the season in a 3-1 effort at Canlan Sports Arena.

STATS
Lancers goaltender Ella Willoughby made 27 saves to backstop the team to victory in her OUA debut. Rookie forward Ella Speechley and sophomore forward Bryn Rutledge each recorded their first career OUA goals, while Phoebe Gao contributed two key assists in the game. 
 
Emma Wedgewood made 24 saves for York and Alexa Giantsopoulos scored the lone Lions goal.
 
GAME FLOW 
The Lancers came out with purpose in the opening frame, capitalizing on an early power play opportunity. Windsor broke through on a Maggie Mitani point shot to notch her first goal of the season and eighth of her career. The power play goal continued Windsor's early-season special teams' success, now converting on three of their first four man-advantage opportunities on the season. Solid penalty killing and composed defensive play allowed the Lancers to take a 1–0 lead into the first intermission. 
 
Willoughby was pivotal early in the second period, making several key saves to keep Windsor ahead. However, York found the equalizer midway through the period with Giantsopoulos tying the game on a one-timer off a feed from Ginger Fast. The Lancers had two more chances on the power play in the second but couldn't convert, and the teams headed into the final frame knotted at one. 
 
The Lancers seized momentum early in the third. A scramble in front of the York net resulted in Rutledge burying a rebound for her first career OUA goal, giving Windsor a 2–1 edge. From there, the Lancers dug defensively, absorbing wave after wave of York pressure. Willoughby was outstanding between the pipes, finishing with 27 saves to preserve the lead. 
 
With the Lions pressing late, Windsor sealed the win with an empty-net goal from Speechley, her first career OUA goal, who fired it home from deep in her own zone to make it 3–1.
 
UP NEXT
The Lancers now head home with renewed confidence, looking to build on the momentum of this road win. They will host the Guelph Gryphons in their home opener at the Capri Pizzeria Recreation Complex on Friday, October 17 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at golancers.ca/tickets, and the game can be streamed via oua.tv.