WATERLOO, Ont. - Returning to home ice after a 1-3 road trip to start the new year, the Laurier Golden Hawks exploded for five goals against the visiting Windsor Lancers in a 5-0 victory at the Waterloo Memorial Rec Complex to come away with consecutive wins and shutouts.
Both teams entered their first match-up of the season coming off wins and Laurier, sitting third in the OUA West, held a six-point cushion over their divisional foe.
The first fifteen minutes of the game produced a slow and uneventful start. The Lancers took a quick tripping penalty to start the game, but the Laurier's second-best powerplay in the OUA couldn't capitalize.Â
Later in the period, the Golden Hawks took a too many skaters penalty, which Ella Jackson served. It didn't produce any results for the Lancers though, with the team only mustering six powerplay goals so far this season.Â
With just over five minutes left in the frame, Laurier's Hayley Szymanowski fed the puck to Christina McCulloch who found her way past Windsor's starting netminder Holly Borrett to make it a 1-0 game for the Golden Hawks. This secured McCulloch's second goal of the season.Â
Just fifty-three seconds later, Kylie Laliberte brought the puck to the front of the net and got herself an unassisted goal to increase the Golden Hawks' lead to 2-0 on her sixth tally of the season.
After giving up the second goal on just seven shots, the Lancers decided to switch to their backup goalie, Cadence Petitclerc.
In the final minute of the first period, the Lancers made a few attempts to get on the scoreboard, but Golden Hawks starting netminder Acadia Carlson came up with some huge saves. Â
Heading into the second period, the Golden Hawks came onto the ice with fire in their veins hoping to extend their lead against the Lancers.Â
Jersie Lindley made a beautiful pass, which went right across the Lancers' goal line, but unfortunately, nobody was there to put it in the back of the net.Â
Just three minutes in, Szymanowski got her second assist of the game by sending the puck over to Chloe Davidson to make it a 3-0 game.Â
Four minutes later, Szymanowski scored a goal for herself, her second of the season. The tally also gave the team's captain her first OUA career three-point game.
As the Lancers tried to keep up with the Golden Hawks, they took three penalties in the second period, including a kneeing penalty that was taken just over halfway through the frame.
During the power play, the Golden Hawks had a golden chance in which the puck was lost around the net. Although some fans argued it was a goal, the refs ultimately waved it off.
With 1:54 left, there was a lot of action in front of Windsor's net. Ella Jackson brought the puck towards the net and Elle Spencer buried the rebound. It was Spencer's seventh goal of the season, keeping her as the leading goal scorer for the Golden Hawks.Â
For a team that was down by five going into the final frame, the Lancers still had some fight left in them.Â
Windsor had fifteen shots on Carlson in the third period, but Laurier's goaltender shut down the Lancers every chance she got.Â
Although the Lancers held most of the control in the third period, nothing would come from it. The Golden Hawks successfully won just their second game in regulation on home ice.Â
Carlson's shutout was her fourth of the season, bumping her save percentage up to .940.Â
The Golden Hawks are now 11-8 on their season and ended the night tied with the Waterloo Warriors for second in the division at 32 points apiece.
Three Stars
1st Star: Acadia Carlson, Laurier Golden Hawks – 35 save shutoutÂ
2nd Star: Hayley Szymanowski, Laurier Golden Hawks – 1 goal, 2 assists
3rd Star: Christina McCulloch, Laurier Golden Hawks – game-winning goal
Up Next
The Golden Hawks look to continue their winning streak as they remain at home for the weekend to host a rematch against the #7-ranked Nipissing Lakers on Saturday night. The last match-up against the Lakers came just fifteen days ago when they beat the Golden Hawks 9-3.Â
Puck drop at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex in Waterloo is at 7 pm. Follow @WLUAthletics on X for live updates and find all the action live on OUA.tv.
