Ridgebacks start the season with a shutout
 
OUA Women's Hockey – UOIT defeated Laurentian 2-0
 
SUDBURY, Ont. – The UOIT women's hockey team got their preseason off to a great start with a 2-0 road victory over the Laurentian Voyageurs in Sudbury on Friday afternoon.
 
The Ridgebacks defensive unit did an excellent job of limiting Laurentian's chances as they held to Voyageurs to just 13 shots over 60 minutes of play. Goaltending was a strength for the team last season and that carried over to this year's preseason opener as Cassie Charette (Ottawa, Ont.) and Tori Campbell (Saskatoon, Sask.) split time for the shutout.
 
UOIT had plenty of scoring chances throughout the game as they fired 34 shots on net. After a scoreless opening 20 minutes, Shaylyn Pavilsko (Oshawa, Ont.) broke the ice less than a minute into the second period as she notched the Ridgebacks' first goal of the preseason. Freshman Chelsea Ball (Brampton, Ont.) picked up an assist on the play.
 
The Ridgebacks would add some insurance six minutes into the final frame when Nicole LoPresti (Hamilton, Ont.) found the back of the net. Melissa Berney (Bowmanville, Ont.) and Sam Forchielli (Hamilton, Ont.) would record assists.
 
Both power play units would come up empty with Laurentian's special teams unit going 0-for-6 while UOIT went 0-for-7.

The Ridgebacks will continue exhibition play against the Whitby Jr. Wolves on Thursday, September 18 at the Campus Ice Centre, followed up with three games in four nights beginning with Ryerson on Thursday, September 25th.
 
A QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 1-0-0
Conference Record: 0-0-0
 
Next Game: Thursday, September 18 vs. Whitby (7:30 p.m.)