TORONTO, Ont. - The #9-ranked Laurier Golden Hawks extended their road-winning streak to seven games with a crucial 4-2 victory over the #4 Toronto Varsity Blues, clinching a top-three finish in the OUA West and avoiding the play-in game for the playoffs.
Toronto struck first in the game's early minutes when Abby Whitworth capitalized on a scramble in front of the net.
However, the Golden Hawks responded quickly. A neutral-zone recovery led to a 2-on-1 opportunity, where Olivia MacMillan finished five-hole off a feed from Clara Chisholm.
Later in the period, captain Hayley Szymanowski put the purple and gold ahead, going glove side and burying the setup from Kylie Laliberte on another 2-on-1 rush.
Laurier extended their lead midway through the second frame when Tieneke Gedge netted her first goal of the season, one-timing a rebound shot from the blue line.
The Golden Hawks tightened up defensively, holding Toronto off the scoreboard despite taking two penalties. They went into the second intermission holding their two-goal lead.
Making her third straight start, rookie goaltender Sarah Howell delivered another standout performance, making several impressive and crucial saves as Toronto pushed back.
Halfway through the frame, the Varsity Blues cut the lead to one when Aili McKeown converted on a rebound.
However, Laurier responded minutes later on the power play when Clara Chisholm finished a backdoor tap-in to restore the two-goal advantage. Despite a late penalty kill and a strong push from Toronto, the Golden Hawks held firm to secure the regulation win.
"It was a battle of the rankings for a reason," said manager of women's hockey operations and head coach Kelly Paton. "It came in waves with a lot of pressure, and Howell had to settle the game down a few times.
"Scoring four and showing confidence even after conceding a goal early was huge for us. Mid-week travel is never easy, and this is a tough rink to play in, so we're really pleased with how we competed."
With the win, Laurier officially secured their spot in the postseason, ultimately avoiding the newly implemented play-in game.
The team will now shift its focus to Saturday's regular-season finale, which will also serve as Senior Day. Paton emphasized balancing lineup adjustments with a competitive mindset.
"While clinching the playoffs allows us to have different discussions for Saturday, we still want to create a space where the seniors can feel celebrated but also come out with a regulation win to end our season on a high note."
The Golden Hawks will look to cap off their regular season with another win, carrying their momentum into a highly anticipated quarterfinal showdown.
Be sure to arrive early to celebrate the graduating Golden Hawks, as the senior ceremony will take place before puck drop at 3:00 p.m. Don't miss your chance to give them the send-off they deserve!
Tickets are available at tickets.laurierathletics.com
The game will also be streamed live on OUA.tv, and real-time updates will be available on X at @WLUAthletics.
