TORONTO, Ont. – Laurier's women's hockey team secured its first point of the season in a hard-fought 3-2 overtime loss to the York Lions on Sunday afternoon. 

The purple and gold came back from a two-goal deficit to force an extra frame but couldn't get a third to pick up the victory. 

The Golden Hawks came out with speed in the first period as they continued to try and take their first win of the season. The Lions, however, got their first goal past Laurier starting goaltender Acadia Carlson only two minutes into the game. After a quick cycle, Jillian Milligan cut into the slot with a quick shot to put the Lions on the board. 

Laurier looked to tie it up on the powerplay, however, York forward Julia Cuccia got away from the purple and gold's defence to head down the ice and score short-handed. 

Carlson continued to make many great saves to keep her team in the game in hopes of more offensive opportunities being generated at the other end. With only two minutes left and a five-on-three opportunity, Elle Spencer took a shot from the point that beat Lion's goalie Emma Wedgewood for her second goal of the year to put Laurier on the board.

The second period remained scoreless for the first 16 minutes as the Golden Hawks fought to tie it up and the Lions looked to expand their lead. With lots of back-and-forth play, the period seemed as if it would remain scoreless until Tieneke Gedge snuck her first career OUA goal past Wedgewood on a rebound from Claire Robinson's point shot. The period ended with a score of 2-2.

The third period remained scoreless throughout its entirety, despite many opportunities at each end. The Lions took two penalties and the Golden Hawks took four, however, both teams were successful in their special teams play as the score remained tied until overtime.

Just 1:53 into the four-on-four OT, York's Jillian Milligan got a gorgeous shot away over the top of Carlson's shoulder to win it for the Lions.

The Golden Hawks had one of their best offensive games to date, as Manager of Hockey Operations and Head Coach Kelly Paton noted "we were most pleased as a staff with the resiliency and facing adversity with a 2-2 game".
 

Three Stars

Jillian Milligan – York Lions: first goal of the game and overtime game-winner

Tieneke Gedge – Laurier Golden Hawks: first OUA career goal

Hayley Szymanowski – Laurier Golden Hawks: listed as one of the top players this game by Paton

Up Next

The Golden Hawks take on the Brock Badgers at SunLife Financial Arena on Friday November 25 at 7:00 pm. Tickets are available now and the action will be streamed live on OUA.tv