ST. CATHERINES, Ont. – Despite a delayed start of almost an hour, Laurier's women's hockey team and Brock still provided an exhilarating matinee game that had everyone on the edge of their seats. With just 0.2 seconds left though, it was the Badgers who skated away with a 2-1 victory in St. Catherines.
With both teams entering the game on five-game losing streaks, neither wasted any time attempting to break their shared trend. The Badgers started out strong, being aggressive right off the bat while Laurier goaltender Cohen Myers (Shakespeare, Ont.) stood firm in the Hawks' net; stopping all 14 shots she faced in the opening frame.
Badgers goalie Tiffany Hsu (Taipei, TW) played confidently, as she shut down numerous challenges by the Golden Hawks.
The second period started off with an offensive surge by the Badgers, as they did an outstanding job keeping the puck in the Hawks' zone. Their efforts were eventually rewarded with just under eight minutes to go in the period. Carley Blomberg (Timmins, Ont.) snapped a shot past Myers after a set-up by teammate Cassidy Maplethorpe (Wetaskiwin, Alta.) to give the home side a 1-0 lead heading into the third.
The final frame saw both teams' goalies being the backbone of their respective teams. Myers was confidently stepping out of her net to cut the angle on a number of Badgers shots, while Hsu made multiple saves on back-to-back attacks from the Hawks.
Things were looking up for the Hawks, but Myers had to make yet an exceptional save to keep them in the game and provide a chance for a comeback.
With just four minutes remaining in regulation, seemingly out of nowhere, Elle Spencer (Richmond, Ont.) scored on a pass from Emily Lange (Trenton, Ont.) to tie it up 1-1.
Awaiting the final buzzer, both teams were surely expecting to enter overtime. That was until Cassidy Maplethorpe unexpectedly scored on a pass from Emma Irwin (Markham, Ont.) with just 0.2 seconds to go in the game.
Top Performers
Golden Hawks
Cohen Myers (Shakespeare Ont.) – Goalie
Playing an excellent game keeping the Hawks in the game and protecting her net despite intense pressure from the Badgers, Myers stood on her head this afternoon.
Elle Spencer (Richmond, Ont.) – Forward
Scoring the first goal of her OUA career, the first-year's effort made for an exciting third period; tying up the game with just four minutes to go.
Badgers
Cassidy Maplethorpe (Wetaskiwin, Alta.) – Forward
Snagging an assist and the game-winning goal with less than a second to go, the third-year player sits in fourth place for points in the OUA, with nine.
Up Next
The Hawks will face the Western at home this Thursday night at 7 p.m. in the first game of a home-and-home with the Mustangs. Western currently sits one spot above the Golden Hawks and holds the final playoff spot in the West division.
Tickets are available at tickets.laurierathletics.com
