WATERLOO, Ont. – Skating off the ice after their final home game before the exam and holiday break, Laurier had three reasons to celebrate. They had just won their first game of the season over Ontario Tech, Kylie Laliberte scored her first OUA goal, and goaltender Acadia Carlson recorded her first OUA shutout.

The Golden Hawks came out fast in the first period, wasting no time as Laliberte and Elle Spencer cycled the puck low in the Ridgebacks zone leading to Laliberte putting the purple and gold on the board with a wraparound goal less than two minutes into the game. 

The Golden Hawks didn't stop there, as they continued to dominate the puck possession as only five minutes went by before their next goal. Hayley Szymanowski got her second goal of the season as she deked out the Ridgeback defence and, on her backhand, shot the puck into the top corner behind goaltended Zoe McGee. 

The remainder of the period consisted of two powerplay opportunities and a penalty kill for the Golden Hawks, but they managed to outshoot the Ridgebacks 7-3 heading into the second period.

The purple and gold started the frame off on a powerplay due to a late penalty against the Ridgebacks. Puck possession was strong for the whole two minutes despite the Golden Hawks being unable to capitalize. This was of no concern to Hayley Szymanowski though because, soon after, she scored her second goal of the game off a tip from Olivia MacMillan's shot from the point. The Golden Hawks outshot the Ridgebacks 10-4 in the period.

The third period was scoreless as Laurier goaltender Acadia Carlson stood strong in net for the purple and gold to get her first shutout of the season.

"I have no words", said Acadia Carlson when asked how she felt about her first win and shutout. "I've been trying to live in the moment every single game, one puck at a time and we finally pulled through. It feels incredible".

Three Stars

Acadia Carlson – Laurier Golden Hawks: first OUA career win & shutout

Hayley Szymanowski – Laurier Golden Hawks: two goals

Brianna Bowman – Laurier Golden Hawks: two assists

Up Next

The Golden Hawks are hitting the road to London to face the Western Mustangs at 7:00 pm Saturday, December 3. Catch all the action live on OUA.tv