ST. CATHARINES, Ont. - The Golden Hawks delivered a statement win on Friday night, blanking the Brock Badgers 6-0 on the road in what marked their largest shutout victory since recording two 5-0 wins last season.
Making the victory even more impressive was the fact that the team endured over two extra hours of travel time to St. Catherines due to poor weather and driving conditions, forcing the start time to be pushed 30 minutes later than the original 6 pm puck drop.
A relentless offensive attack and solid goaltending paved the way for Laurier, who recently broke into the 10th spot in the U SPORTS women's hockey national rankings, proving they're a force to be reckoned with.
Brock came out with a defensive mindset, but the purple and gold found a way to break through.
Midway through the frame, Laurier captain
Hayley Szymanowski capitalized on open space in the slot, opting for a backhand shot that found the back of the net to open the scoring.
Both teams remained disciplined, with special teams percentages nearly identical in the standings, setting up a competitive tone early on.
Coming out of the first intermission only up by one goal, the Golden Hawks exploded for four goals in the second frame, overwhelming Brock with a series of shots.
Just 24 seconds into the period,
Jersie Lindley doubled their lead with a well-placed shot below the glove on a partial break.
Ella Jackson made it 3-0 minutes later with a bar-down snipe from the slot, forcing a Brock goaltending change.
Laurier's fourth goal was one for the highlight reels, as
Arielle MacDonald connected on a stretch pass to
Elle Spencer, who quickly fed
Kylie Laliberte with an impeccable drop pass for a top-shelf finish.
The Golden Hawks forced a turnover to set up their fifth goal, with Spencer capping off the period with another top-shelf shot, securing a commanding lead going into the final frame.
Their line in specific combined for seven points in the night's contest.
"They're veteran players, and we carry expectations that they're going to make an impact," explained Laurier's manager of women's hockey operations and head coach
Kelly Paton. "It's nice to see them rewarded with offensive success, but their communication and energy on the bench also set the tone for the team."
Physicality ramped up in the final frame, but Laurier stayed composed. They added one more tally when
Emily Olson jammed home a loose puck after a scramble in the crease.
The Golden Hawks maintained a relentless forecheck and second efforts in the offensive zone, ensuring Brock had no chance of a comeback.
"We talked before the game about the choice we have - are we going to be the reasons we can't have success, or are we going to be a team that deserves to be in the top 10?" said Paton. "They responded well, and getting that second-period push with so much offence helped with the mindset going forward."
Rookie goaltender
Sarah Howell recorded her third shutout of the season and her second straight, further highlighting Laurier's depth and strength in net.
"In the second half, it's been something to build off of. We're in a fortunate position where we feel confident in all three of our goalies, and that depth gives the team confidence to play their game." Paton noted.
The Golden Hawks will aim to build on this momentum and extend their win streak to a season-high as they return home to face the York Lions on Saturday evening.
The action can be caught at 7:00 p.m. and can be streamed on OUA.tv. Live updates will also be available on X at @WLUAthletics.
