Ridgebacks get shutout to close out 2013

OUA Women's Hockey: Laurier defeated UOIT 6-0

WATERLOO, Ont. – The UOIT women's hockey team closed out the first half of their season with a 6-0 road loss to the No. 5 ranked Laurier Golden Hawks.

Sunday's victory was Laurier's ninth straight as they head into the break in first place with a 13-2-0 record.

The Ridgebacks could not overcome a disastrous start that saw them allow four goals in the first period. Laurier came out flying as Laura Brooker scored two goals in the first five minutes of the game, followed up with tallies from Jessica Prevette and Jessie Hurrell midway through the period.

UOIT starting goalie Tori Campbell (Lethbridge, Alta.) was pulled after allowing three goals off of eight shots.

The Golden Hawks would manage to score a goal in each of the next two periods from Tammy Freiburger and Hurrell to secure the 6-0 win.

Cassie Charette (Ottawa, Ont.) was busy in net for UOIT as she came into the game in relief early in the first frame. Charette stopped 38 of 41 Laurier shots in just over 51 minutes of play.

Laurier goaltender Kayla Brown earned her first shutout of the season as she turned aside 24 UOIT shots.

UOIT (8-7-1) is in fifth place and leads a group of four teams that are only separated by two points in the standings. Western (8-6-1), Windsor (7-6-1) and Waterloo (6-6-3) will all be looking to leapfrog the Ridgebacks for playoff positioning during the second half of the season.

The Ridgebacks first game of the new year is set to take place on Thursday, January 9 when they head to Toronto to take on the Ryerson Rams.

A QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 12-8-1
Conference Record: 8-7-1

Next Game: Thu. Jan. 9 @ Ryerson (7:30 p.m.)