UOIT's comeback bid falls short in double overtime

OSHAWA, Ont. – The UOIT women's hockey team proved that "giving up" is not in their vocabulary as they erased a 4-1 deficit in game two of their playoff series against the No. 4 ranked Laurier Golden Hawks to force overtime on Saturday night. Unfortunately for the Ridgebacks, the Golden Hawks managed to put an end to UOIT's season as they scored 5:26 in the second overtime period to earn the 2-0 series victory.

Fourth year senior Tammy Freiburger scored overtime winner that sends Laurier into the OUA semi-finals as she tucked home a rebound past UOIT goaltender Cassie Charette (Ottawa, Ont.) on a scramble in front of the net.

The loss mirrors last season's playoff result for the Ridgebacks as they dropped game two at home against Guelph in double overtime one year ago.
Laurier took advantage of UOIT penalties as three of their five goals were scored on the man advantage. Laurier took the big lead in the second period with back-to-back power play goals 15 seconds apart.

The Ridgebacks relied on the outstanding performance of Charette in their comeback bid, as she made 22 saves after coming into the game in relief with her team trailing 4-1 midway through the second period.

Sam Forchielli (Hamilton, Ont.) would cut Laurier's lead in half late in the second period as she found the top corner from the slot as she recorded her first playoff goal.

The Ridgebacks would come out of the locker room in the third period on fire as they scored back-to-back goals three minutes into the frame. Melissa Berney (Bowmanville, Ont.) lit the lamp with a rocket from the point 30 seconds in which was followed up with a passing play completed by Katie Dillon (Whitby, Ont.) to knot the game at four goals apiece.

Sarah Worthington (Whitby, Ont.), who scored the Ridgebacks first goal of the game, finished the night with three points (1 G, 2 A).

Blair Connelly and Robyn Degagne were the leading goal scorers for the Golden Hawk as they matched Worthington's performance with a goal and two assists. Freiburger also had a multi-point game with a goal and an assist.

All four goaltenders saw action in the game with Kayla Brown of Laurier earning the eventual victory. Brown stopped all but one of UOIT's shots on goal as she made her OUA postseason debut.

Although the season ended with a first round loss, it was a record-breaking year for the Ridgebacks as they set program benchmarks for the most wins (13) and points (27) in a season.

Saturday's game also marked the final games for graduating seniors Worthington, Jaclyn Gibson (Cobourg, Ont.), Violette Long (Oshawa, Ont.) and Jill Morillo (Whitby, Ont.).

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