WATERLOO, Ont. - The Laurier Golden Hawks extended their winning streak to twelve games with a 2-1 overtime victory over the defending McGaw Cup champions, the Toronto Varsity Blues, on Thursday morning at the Memorial Rec Complex during the annual School Day Game.

With the win in front of 2,335 fans, Laurier matched the program's longest winning streak since the 2011-12 season and remains atop the OUA standings with 52 points. 

Sarah Howell, the OUA goals-against average (0.58) and save percentage (.972) leader, stopped 20 shots in the contest, including a highlight-reel pad save in overtime that proved pivotal in securing the win. 

Toronto opened the scoring at 14:01 of the first period. After Laurier was unable to clear the zone, the Varsity Blues sustained offensive pressure and created traffic in front of Howell. While she made the initial stop, the rebound landed on the stick of Petra Klimes, who lifted the puck into the top of the net over a sprawling Howell. 

The Golden Hawks responded just minutes later. Under pressure along the end boards, Ella Jackson worked the puck free and found Elle Spencer with space above the left circle. Spencer's shot hit the chest of goaltender Lyla McKinnon but rebounded into the slot, where Clara Chisholm buried the loose puck to even the score at one late in the frame. 

The tightly contested opening period set the tone for the remainder of the game. With both teams sitting near the top of the standings, the pace was high and the margin for error slim. 

"After today, I think there's some perspective shared to the group that there's a reason why Toronto has had so much success in the postseason," said Laurier's manager of women's hockey operations and head coach, Kelly Paton. "They're still a really good hockey team, and for us, it's been a while since we've been pushed to that pace." 

Despite several grade-A chances at both ends, the goaltenders stood tall through regulation. In the third period, Toronto was called for tripping, sending Laurier to the power play. Paton used her timeout to allow players to reset, but just seven seconds into the advantage, a penalty sent the game back to even strength. Both teams finished the contest 0-for-2 on the power play. 

With the score still tied at one, the game was decided in seven minutes of 3-on-3 overtime. 

Toronto controlled possession early in the extra frame after winning the opening draw, forcing Laurier to defend on tired legs. That pressure nearly paid off when Taylor Delahey found herself with a wide-open look at the net, but Howell slid across to make a remarkable pad save at the doorstep. 

"They won the initial faceoff, and we never got it back for about two and a half minutes," Paton said. "Once Sarah made that save and we were able to get some new bodies on the ice, we had more pace, more possession, and more urgency." 

The save proved to be the turning point. Laurier sent out a fresh line of Hayley Szymanowski, Olivia MacMillan, and Kara den Hoed, who won the ensuing faceoff, and pushed the puck up ice. Szymanowski collected the puck behind the net, fought off a defender, and tucked a wraparound attempt under the far pad to seal the dramatic overtime victory. 

"It was a highlight-reel save for sure," Szymanowski said. "The bench was going crazy. We owed her that game. My goal doesn't happen if she doesn't make that incredible save." 

The win also came in front of a lively School Day crowd, adding to the energy inside the Memorial Rec Complex. 

"It was pretty electric," said Howell. "I've never played in front of a crowd that big, or that loud, but it was cool, and it's nice, because I feel like that's the way to grow the game. Younger kids can see what women's hockey can be and how that can look. It was exciting seeing kids up on the glass because I remember going back to school day games myself back in Ottawa, so it was nice to be on the other side of that and just be part of something cool." 

Laurier will look to keep the momentum rolling as they continue their homestand, welcoming cross-town rivals the Waterloo Warriors on Saturday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. 

Tickets are available at tickets.laurierathletics.com. The action will also be streamed live on OUA.tv