WATERLOO, Ont. - Despite climbing back from a two-goal deficit the Golden Hawks lost a back-and-forth home opener at Sun Life Financial Arena, falling 3-2 to the Windsor Lancers. 

Windsor came out hot, testing OUA All-Star goaltender Christian Propp early. Propp denied multiple cross-crease scoring opportunities off the hop, but for the third straight game, the Golden Hawks' opponents opened the scoring. 

Just over six minutes into the opening frame Hunter Holmes put home a rebound to give Windsor the lead. Laurier had 9 shots in the first but came out of the frame down one. 

The second began no better as the Lancers potted their second of the game just two minutes into the period. However, things began to turn around for the Golden Hawks about halfway through the frame. 

On Laurier's first powerplay of the game, Adrian Nabuurs fed the puck to Sam Rhodes who ripped a shot from the top of the left circle sending it between the goaltender's legs. Rhodes has opened the season with three goals, scoring in each of Laurier's contests. 

With less than a minute remaining in the second period on a two-on-one, Caleb Rich sent a cross-ice pass to a streaking Evan Benwell who went glove side to bury his first career OUA goal. 

Windsor would get into penalty trouble early in the third period. Although the Golden Hawks had many quality scoring chances, they could not capitalize. 

On an odd-man rush with just over eight minutes remaining in the game, Windsor's Brady Pataki found his way behind Laurier's defensemen putting away his first of the season. Laurier could not find an answer, dropping their third straight (and second in regulation). 

The Golden Hawks ended the game with 25 shots on goal, while Propp stopped 26 of 29 shots. The purple and gold went 1 for 5 on the powerplay and 2 for 2 on the penalty kill. 

Despite the winless start to the season, Interim Manager of Hockey Operations and Head Coach Kevin Forrest said his team is optimistic heading forward – especially with the Golden Hawks' penalty kill having been put to the test eight times thus far and yet to be scored on. 

"They have been attentive, the boys have been good at making that read on what the other teams [powerplay] are doing", said Forrest. "The attitude and the character, that's there for sure and half the battle. As far as structures and systems go, if we clean some things up, we might start surprising some people." 

The Golden Hawks look to take revenge against the Lancers on Saturday night in the second half of the back-to-back. They'll look to get their first win of the season with members of the 1982-83 men's hockey team, the first in Laurier men's hockey history to win a provincial title. They are in town to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their OUAA championship.