WINDSOR, Ont - The Laurier Golden Hawks had their four-game win streak snapped in a 4-2 loss to the Windsor Lancers in the final regular season game of the year.
The Golden Hawks set the tone early, striking first on the power play just 47 seconds into the game.
Sam Rhodes redirected first-year
Isaac Sooklal's point shot past Windsor's Nathan Torchia for his 16th goal of the campaign to open the scoring.
Laurier got into some penalty trouble just over midway through the first, as two Golden Hawks got sent to the sin bin at the same time. Windsor could not score on the 5-on-3 before the Golden Hawks somehow managed to take another penalty.
Windsor eventually found the back of the net 14:51 into the first as Matt McNamara picked up the tally for the Lancers. As one penalty came off the board Laurier's third penalty went up.
The Golden Hawks would remain two men short for 38 seconds. The Lancers took their first lead of the game when Ty Toews scored before the third Golden Hawk could exit the box.
After opening the scoring under a minute in the game, the Golden Hawks headed into the first intermission trailing 2-1.
The Lancers scored a third unanswered goal 2:44 into the second as McNamara found twine for the second time Friday night.
The Golden Hawks brought themselves back within one after capitalizing on the power play.
Bryce Kilbourne took a shot from the point that found its way through a sea of bodies and behind Torchia for his first OUA goal.
Laurier would get two more cracks on the power play but could not manage to beat Torchia. They headed into the final frame trailing 3-2.
Laurier's efforts to make a comeback in the third period were thwarted by Torchia and the Lancer defence. Windsor extended their lead to 4-2 when Johnny Ulicny sent a cross-crease pass off of a Laurier defender and behind Laurier's
Christian Propp.
Propp stopped 26 of the 30 shots Windsor sent in his direction.
Laurier stayed determined, but the frustration began to show. A late penalty pretty much sealed the Golden Hawks' fate as they would fall 4-2 against the Lancers.
Minus - Penalties
Penalty trouble was the biggest factor in this loss. First-period penalties resulted in the momentum shifting from the visiting Golden Hawks to the Lancers and their home crowd. The penalty late in the third period prevented Laurier from making the meaningful comeback they so desperately wanted.
Playoff Picture + Up Next
The regulation loss to the Lancers cemented Laurier as the 6th in the OUA West. They are set to host the 7th-place Nipissing Lakers on Sunday.
The Golden Hawks hosted Nipissing back in October. The Lakers defeated Laurier 3-1, but the Golden Hawks of the new year look like a different team than October's Golden Hawks.
Puck drop at the SunLife Financial Arena is at 7 pm. Tickets are now available online. You can also catch all the action live on OUA.tv and RadioLaurier.com
