ELMIRA, Ont. - The Golden Hawks headed to Elmira on Saturday to wrap up not only the Battle of Waterloo but also their last game of the 2023-2024 regular season on Saturday afternoon.

Having won a playoff spot and the the season-long Battle of Waterloo series a night earlier, Laurier couldn't quite cap off an otherwise memorable weekend, dropping a 5-2 decision at Dan Snyder Memorial Arena.

The energy from the Golden Hawks was noticeably high as they confirmed their playoff spot the night before, as they beat the Warriors in a six-round shootout, thanks to Arielle MacDonald, Acadia Carlson and the rest of the team. 

This first period seemed to mirror the first period performance less than 24 hours earlier, as both teams had many chances, and the puck was continuously skated down the ice toward each end. 

Four minutes into the first period, Waterloo's Kassidy McCarthy took a tripping penalty, giving the Golden Hawks the power play. 

With seconds left in the penalty, Hayley Szymanowski passed the puck to Arielle MacDonald, who potted the previous night's shootout winner and buried her slapshot in the back of Waterloo's net to make it 1-0 for the Golden Hawks. It was Szymanowski's eleventh assist of the season and MacDonald's fifth goal. 

The Warriors were looking to retaliate as Brookly Cole had a breakaway opportunity towards Laurier's netminder, Kayla Renaud, but her backhanded shot wasn't enough to get past Laurier's netminder.

With just over two minutes left in the opening frame, Cole passed the puck over to Madison Pritchard who buried the puck top shelf, making it 1-1. 

Heading into the second period with a tie game, the Golden Hawks were down an attacker as Jaiden Duncan took a tripping penalty late in the frame. 

The Golden Hawks displayed excellent defence during the penalty kill and Renaud made some big saves to keep the game tied. 

Once the penalty was over, the play moved back to the Waterloo zone, leaving MacDonald to take a slapshot from the point, but it got lost in traffic before it could reach the net. 

Shortly after, MacMillan left Szymanowski a drop pass, who one-timed it towards Waterloo starting netminder Kara Mark, but Mark made a huge save to stop the play. 

Eight minutes into the second, Sarah Bestic circled the puck around the net and Andrea Murray banged in the rebound for the Warriors to take the lead, 2-1. It was Murray's sixth goal of the season. 

Just over a minute later, Madison Pritchard sent a pass to Kieara Raitt, who one-timed the puck passed Renaud, making it 3-1 for the Warriors.

Laurier's coaching staff decided it would benefit the team to switch goalies, putting Kathryn Raitano in. 

During the second period, the Golden Hawks struggled to get the puck out of their zone. 

However, when the Golden Hawks did make it to the Warriors' end, Waterloo's netminder, Mark stopped just about everything that came her way. 

With 18:23 left in the second period, Bestic took an interference penalty, giving the Golden Hawks the advantage. 

During the powerplay, Jackson fed Kylie Laliberte for her eighth goal of the season to cut the Warriors' lead to 3-2.

Early in the third period, Paige Rynne had a breakaway chance for Waterloo but Raitano poke-checked the puck away from her to save it. 

Six minutes into the game, Jessie Fennel took a hooking penalty, and the Golden Hawks were looking to tie the game, as their two goals of the game took place on the power play. 

The Golden Hawks had multiple chances on the power play, including a nice shot from the point by MacDonald, but they couldn't get anything past Mark. 

Shortly after Fennel's penalty expired, Paige Rynne was sent to the box for tripping Elle Jackson right in front of Waterloo's net, sending her hard into the boards. 

As the Golden Hawks were circulating the puck in Waterloo's end, one of the Warriors would send the puck towards Raitano to give them a break. However, Leah Herrfort had the puck behind Laurier's net and was able to pass the puck in front of the net to Tatum James, who was wide open, who ripped a shot pastRaitano.

James' shorthanded goal would be the Warriors' fifth and last goal of the game and James' ninth of the season. 

The Warriors would win this Battle of Waterloo, 5-2. 

The Golden Hawks concluded their 2023-2024 regular season with a 13-12-2-1 record – the first time the team has finished above .500 and in the playoffs during head coach Kelly Paton's tenure behind the bench.

Three Stars

1st Star: Madison Pritchard, Waterloo Warriors – 1 G, 1 A

2nd Star: Tatum James, Waterloo Warriors – 1 G

3rd Star: Arielle MacDonald, Laurier Golden Hawks – 1 G

Up Next

It won't be long until these two teams battle against each other again, as they're set to face off in round one of the playoffs. 

The first game is set for Wednesday, February 21 at Columbia Ice Fields with a 7 pm puck drop. 

Laurier will host game 2 at RIM Park's Piller Ice Pad on Saturday, February 24 at 4:30 pm. Tickets are on sale now! 

A potential third game is set for Sunday, February 25 back on Waterloo's home ice.