WATERLOO, Ont. - The Golden Hawks opened their Battle of Waterloo match-up this season with a comeback victory over their crosstown rivals, the Waterloo Warriors, earning a 2–1 win in overtime.
It was an especially memorable night for veteran forward and assistant captain Elle Spencer, who suited up for her 100th career OUA game.
Although Laurier came out with good pace, it was the Warriors who struck first just over seven minutes into the opening period when a missed defensive-zone pass landed right on the stick of Keiara Raitt in the slot. She wasted no time firing a shot top corner to give Waterloo the early lead.
Despite numerous special teams opportunities for both sides through the middle portion of the game, the next goal wouldn't come until just 15 seconds into the third period. Laurier entered the second intermission with only one minute remaining on a 5-on-3 power play and knew they needed to start the frame with possession if they wanted to capitalize.
"We grabbed the five players that were going to be in for the start of the period and just talked about some strategies with five-on-three, and how that looks a little different than five-on-four," said Laurier's manager of women's hockey operations and head coach
Kelly Paton.
The game plan was clear, and after receiving a cross-ice pass from
Clara Chisholm,
Ella Jackson used her time and space to thread a perfect shot through traffic, finding the back of the net to tie the game at one.
Laurier's penalty kill was tested later in the third as the Hawks were forced to fight off a four-minute penalty. Not only did they weather the storm, but they also drew a Waterloo penalty to even things up halfway through the disadvantage.
"It was emotional, for sure, in a sense of just lots of special teams and some pretty big penalty calls in key moments," Paton said. "Our penalty kill was big for us tonight, giving momentum to the game that way. And then just being really good and connected in overtime, limiting chances against."
With the score locked 1–1 after regulation, the game moved to 3-on-3 overtime. Both teams earned power-play chances, but it was Laurier's special teams that ultimately made the difference. After killing off another penalty, the Hawks went to the power play with just under a minute remaining in the extra frame. Jackson picked up the puck along the sideboards, found herself in familiar territory in the slot, and fired a screened shot glove-side to seal the 2–1 overtime win.
Coming off her first shutout of the season, goaltender
Kayla Renaud got the nod in net and turned aside 24 shots in the victory.
Paton added that the win carried extra meaning for the group as they celebrated Spencer's milestone.
"The other cool momentum piece for tonight was celebrating
Elle Spencer playing in her 100th regular-season OUA game. We had a bit of a celebration pregame and postgame, just giving her the platform on how meaningful it is to be in that space. Lots of emotion, lots of positivity. We're happy with the outcome for sure, but we also know that we have to turn our focus now to the new game tomorrow."
Riding a four-game win streak, the Golden Hawks will look to keep the momentum rolling when they host Queens at the Athletic Complex on Saturday.
Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m., and tickets are available
here.
