ETOBICOKE, Ont. - The Golden Hawks were looking to bounce back from Friday night's loss against Brock but fell 3-2 to the York University Lions, dropping their second game in as many nights on Saturday at Canlan Ice Sports.

Laurier opened the scoring just 4:34 into the first when Conor Ali fired a cross-ice pass to Matt McJannet, who one-timed the puck past the sprawling Lions goaltender, Cole Ceci, for his third goal of the season. 

Later in the period, York's Lucas Theriault made a move to lure Christian Propp out of position and then sent a pass to David D'Agostino to tie the game at one. 

Despite going into the first intermission tied at one, Laurier controlled most of the play, outshooting and out-chancing the Lions. 

Sam Rhodes made a nice move around York's David Mabey and ripped a laser over the shoulder of Ceci to give the Golden Hawks a 2-1 lead. Sophomore Evan Benwell picked up his second assist of the night on the goal.

York responded with two unanswered goals in the period and headed into the intermission with their first lead of the game. Theriault took a wack at a rebound and found the back of the net, tying the game at two just minutes after Laurier took the lead. 

Klim Georgiev then put the Lions up by a goal in the dying minutes of the second frame. Propp knocked the net off its moorings just as the puck crossed the line, but the ref deemed the integrity of the scoring was maintained - therefore, it stood. 

Neither goal would come on any of York's three powerplay opportunities where the Golden Hawks' penalty kill looked dominant.

The Golden Hawks came out of the second intermission with a fire in their bellies and had a few high-quality scoring chances in the first minutes of the frame but were unable to find a way past Ceci in the third period. 

The Golden Hawks now hold a record of 8-9-1 and find themselves sliding down the standings from sixth into eighth place and on the periphery of the playoff picture.

History

Saturday's game was the third and final time the two teams met this season. York swept the season series 3-0, but all of the games were tight. 

Three seems to be the magic number for the Lions as they put three goals past Propp each game, winning 3-1, 3-2 and 3-2 respectively. 

Plus + Christian Propp

Propp got the nod again after playing last night at Brock. Tonight he stopped 37 of the 40 shots that York sent in his direction. Propp bailed his teammates out a few times, stopping a breakaway and multiple grade-A scoring chances on his way to a .925 save percentage for the night.

Minus - The Net 

The net in York's zone was knocked off its moorings three separate times. Two of these occurred as Propp was pushing off the post in an attempt to stop cross-crease passes. 

The first time it happened, York put the puck past Propp, but the goal was disallowed and Propp was given a delay of game penalty for supposedly knocking the net off. If you are confused, everyone who witnessed it was as well. 

Plus + the Penalty Kill

The penalty kill shut everything down on Saturday, throwing bodies in front of shots and putting sticks in lanes to minimize chances. York was forced to shoot from outside in desperation to try and beat Propp.

The PK was so dominant that it occasionally looked like Laurier held the advantage. The Golden Hawks controlled the puck for most of York's second powerplay. 

UP NEXT

Laurier look to turn the tough start to the new year around next weekend when they face off against the TMU Bold (7-4) in Toronto on Friday night. They will then host the Lakehead Thunderwolves on Saturday. 

Follow the action on Twitter @wluathletics or catch all the action on OUA.tv. Tickets are also available now.