UOIT falls to Laurier in game one of the playoffs


OUA Women's Hockey Quarterfinals
Game One: Laurier defeated UOIT 3-1
Game Two: Saturday, February 15 at the Campus Ice Centre (7:30 p.m.)

WATERLOO, Ont. - The UOIT Ridgebacks dropped the opening game of their best-of-three quarterfinal series 3-1 to the No. 4 ranked Laurier Golden Hawks on Wednesday night in OUA women's hockey playoff action.

Game two of the series will take place on Saturday, February 15 at the Campus Ice Centre with puck drop scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday's game will mark only the second playoff home game in the history of the UOIT women's hockey program.

The Golden Hawks took advantage of a pair of UOIT turnovers to take a 2-0 lead as veterans Laura Brooker and Danielle Im scored in the first and second period respectively.

Jill Morillo (Whitby, Ont.) was able to cut the Laurier lead in half as she scored her first career playoff goal late in the second period. Morillo would take a pass from linemate Sarah Worthington (Whitby, Ont.), cut in front of the net and roof one past Laurier goaltender Amanda Smith. Morillo's goal set off a flurry of opportunities for UOIT late in the period, but Laurier was able to escape with their one goal lead intact.

With under ten minutes to go in the final frame, Megan Howe was able to deflect in a Candice Styles point shot to restore Laurier's two-goal lead. UOIT would pull their goalie late in the game but were unable to beat Smith for a second time.

Smith would end up making 20 saves as she recorded her first OUA playoff victory. At the other end of the ice, UOIT goaltender Tori Campbell (Lethbridge, Alta.) made 26 saves in her postseason debut. Both special team units had a quiet night as only one penalty against Laurier was called in which UOIT's power play could not take advantage of.

The Ridgebacks will look to regroup and find a way to knock off the nationally ranked Golden Hawks at home on Saturday night. If they can pull out a win, a third and deciding game will take place on Sunday night in Waterloo.

A QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 17-12-1
Conference Record: 13-10-1

OUA Quarterfinals – UOIT vs. Laurier
Game One – Laurier defeated UOIT 3-1
Game Two – Sat. Feb. 15 @ UOIT (7:30 p.m.)
Game Three – Sun. Feb. 16 @ Laurier (7:30 p.m.) *If Necessary

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott Dennis
Sports Information and Marketing Coordinator
Durham College and UOIT Athletics
905.721.2000 Ext. 2784 (P)
905.721.3117 (F)


Photo Credit: Al Fournier