The University of Windsor Lancers women's hockey team had two home games on the weekend of October 17-18, dropping a 3-0 decision to the Guelph Gryphons on Friday (Oct. 17) and picking up a 3-1 win over the Brock Badgers on Saturday (Oct. 18), with both games at the Capri Pizzeria Recreation Complex in Windsor, Ont.

FRIDAY
The Lancers returned home on Friday night for their home opener at the after picking up their first win of the season in Toronto, Ont. against the York Lions on Sunday. Meanwhile, the visiting Guelph Gryphons came into the matchup looking to maintain their perfect start to the season, having earned back-to-back wins at home. Strong goaltending from the Gryphons led to a 3-0 win by the visitors.

STATS
Guelph Gryphons goalie Sophie Helfenstein earned a shutout with 35 saves, while teammates Arielle MacDonald and Katherine Heard each notched two assists in the win. Despite the loss, Rebecca Noble stood tall in net for the Lancers, turning away 32 shots in an impressive performance.

GAME FLOW
Guelph struck early, breaking through on the power play as Deija Houston tipped in a point shot from Katherine Heard to take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

In the second, Guelph continued to control the play. Captain Jadyn Calder extended the lead to 2-0 with another power play goal, assisted by Arielle MacDonald. Windsor nearly responded, hitting the crossbar, but couldn't capitalize on back-to-back power plays late in the frame.

The Lancers had five power plays in the third but were unable to solve Gryphons goaltender Helfenstein. With the net empty late, Rachael Brazeau iced the game with Guelph's third goal. Rebecca Noble made several key saves for Windsor, but the Lancers fell to 1-2-0. Guelph improves to 3-0 and remains unbeaten in OUA play.

 

SATURDAY
Windsor came out ready to play against the 2-1-0 Brock Badgers as the two teams engaged in a high energy contest that saw lots of penalties and scoring opportunities throughout the entire game, with the Lancers coming out on top, 3-1.

STATS
Ella Willouhby stood tall for the Lancers in her second career start, making 27 saves in the win. Makayla Mailhot had a goal and an assist. Elissa Benjamin and Sierra Moreau were the other Lancers to find the back of the net, with Willoughby and Maggie Mitani picking up assists. Jenna Duarte scored the lone Brock goal and Megan Thiessen made 24 saves.

GAME FLOW
Each team began with game with an edge, as physical play and feistiness led to a total of eight penalties assessed in the final ten minutes of the first period. Amidst the extracurriculars, Elissa Benjamin opened the scoring fifteen minutes into the period, blasting home a one-timer on the power play to net the Lancers first goal on home ice this season. Brock evened up the contest with a power play goal of their own with less than two minutes remaining in the first period, with Jenna Duarte converting.

The second frame was not unlike the first, as the Badgers and Lancers traded penalties throughout the middle twenty minutes. Makayla Mailhot gave Windsor the lead with a shot over the shoulder of the Badgers goaltender, giving Windsor their lead back with just five minutes remaining in the second period.

The game calmed down in the third period, as the teams stayed out of the box and settled into their games. In a relatively low event period, Sierra Moreau iced the game for the Lancers with an empty net goal in the final minute.

UP NEXT
The Lancers improve to 2-2-0 on the season, and stay at home next weekend when the face the Ottawa Gee-Gees on Saturday, October 25. Puck drop at the Capri Pizzeria Recreation Complex is scheduled for 4 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at golancers.ca/tickets, and the game can be streamed via oua.tv.