WATERLOO, Ont. - The Golden Hawks started their regular season at home on Friday night with a 3-1 win over the Windsor Lancers. 

Laurier was dominant throughout the game, taking control in the final minutes of the first period, with Abby Glandon scoring her first OUA goal on the power-play from a goalmouth scramble with just under three minutes left.

After a scoreless second period, Laurier capitalized on another power play in the early goings of the third.

Just 1:50 in, Clara Chisholm also recorded her first OUA goal, redirecting a shot from the point at the top of the crease. 

Windsor's Illena Ricker-Singh cut the Golden Hawks' lead in half almost eight minutes later but that's as close as they would come to closing the gap.

Laurier captain Hayley Szymanowski scored the game's final goal - and third for the purple and gold on the power-play, by banging home a rebound after an Arielle MacDonald point shot got through.

Golden Hawks starting goaltender Kayla Renaud picked up the win, stopping 29 of 30 Windsor shots.

Laurier dominated the shot clock, out-shooting Windsor 44-31. Their special teams proved to be the difference, going 3-for-7. They also held firm on their penalty kill, with Windsor going 0-for-4. 

After the game, Laurier's manager of women's hockey operations and head coach Kelly Paton emphasized the importance of special teams but also noted the need to work on five-on-five aspects as the season progresses. 

Goal scorers Abby Glandon and Clara Chisholm credited their success to a shift in the team's mindset and game style, focusing on defence and forechecking. 
 

Up next:

The Golden Hawks will face last season's Queen's Cup finalists, the Toronto Varsity Blues (1-0), on Saturday night at the Waterloo Memorial Rec Complex. 

Puck drop is scheduled for 7 pm. Tickets are on sale now!

Also follow @WLUAthletics on X for updates or watch live on OUA.tv