GUELPH, Ont. - The Golden Hawks are back in the win column after a dramatic 1-0 overtime win over the fourth-ranked Guelph Gryphons on Friday night.

This battle at the Gryphon Centre Arena marked the first meeting of the top two teams of the OUA West division this season. 

After falling short in their last two games, the Golden Hawks were hungry for a win. Although the Gryphons put up a good fight, as evidenced by a scoreless game until overtime, Olivia MacMillan found a way to bang in a goal late in extra time. 

The game began with both teams having high-quality scoring chances, which carried on throughout the entire game. Both goaltenders stole the limelight, with Laurier's starting netminder Acadia Carlson making huge stops throughout the game, eventually earning her second shutout of the season with 32 saves.

Halfway through the second period, the Gryphons took the first penalty of the game, giving the Golden Hawks the powerplay. The Golden Hawks entered the game ranked second in the OUA for power play opportunities. However, they couldn't make anything happen on the powerplay and the game remained scoreless.

With less than a minute left in the second period, MacMillan blocked a shot inside the Golden Hawks blue line. She quickly headed up ice on a breakaway, however, the Gryphons caught up to her and poke-checked it away.  

In the third frame, Hailey Szymanowski had a good chance to take the lead late in regulation but was shut down by Gryphon's goaltender Martina Fedel. 

With the game headed into overtime, it was Guelph's fifth overtime game, having lost once, won in a shootout once and lost in a shootout. Laurier's third overtime opportunity, having won both. 

MacMillan had a solid chance right off the drop in overtime but Fedel made the stop to continue to game. 

Just a minute later, Gryphon Maya Graham got a breakaway of her own but Carlson made a game-saving save.

With three minutes left in OT, the Gryphons were charged with a hitting-from-behind penalty. The Golden Hawks took advantage, starting with a shot from the blue line that got caught up on the way to the net before MacMillan snuck the puck past Fedel for the win. It was also her second goal of the season, having scored her first in equally-clutch fashion just three games prior with 13 seconds left in regulation against Brock.
 

W?? FINAL - LAURIER WINS! Olivia MacMillan puts home the winner! The Golden Hawks take back first place in the OUA West!@guelph_gryphons | 0
Golden Hawks | 1#SoarAbove | #GUEvsWLU pic.twitter.com/0K2rhQblFR

— Laurier Golden Hawks (@WLUAthletics) November 18, 2023

With the win, the Golden Hawks remain in second place in the OUA West division and are now 8-3-0-0 on the season. Guelph dropped to 8-2-0-1.

THREE STARS: 

1st Star: Olivia MacMillan, Laurier Golden Hawks – Game-winner in OT

2nd Star: Acadia Carlson, Laurier Golden Hawks – Shutout, 32 Saves.

3rd Star: Martina Fedel, Guelph Gryphons, 24 Saves. 

Up Next:

The Golden Hawks and Gryphons will play the return leg of the home-and-home in Waterloo in front of over 3,000 School Day fans on Thursday, November 23rd. 

Puck drop is at 11:00 am at the Sun Life Financial Arena, Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex. Follow @WLUAthletics on X for live updates and watch and listen live on OUA.tv and RadioLaurier.com