ST. CATHARINES, Ont. – If the UOIT women's hockey team wants to qualify for the playoffs, they know they have some ground to make up. The team took a step in the right direction on Saturday picking up a big road win over Brock (4-2), putting an end to a three-game losing streak.
Appearing in her third straight game, UOIT goaltender
Cassie Charette (Ottawa, Ont.) made 25 saves for her second win of the year. Brock applied a lot of pressure in the first period outshooting UOIT 7-3, but Charette stopped every shot she faced to keep the Badgers off the board.
In the second period, goals would come in a flurry as the teams combined for three in just as many minutes.
Nicole LoPresti (Hamilton, Ont.) got the Ridgebacks on the board at 12:03, but Brock struck back as Amanda Leradi scored the first of her career just 36 seconds later.
Victoria MacKenzie (Toronto, Ont.) would regain the UOIT lead as she scored her second goal of the year with
Kassidy Nauboris (Brampton, Ont.) picking up an assist.
The combination of MacKenzie/Nauboris would hook up one more time in the third period with Nauboris on the receiving end this time for her fifth of the season.
Brock showed a lot of fight cutting the lead to just one with four minutes to go, but UOIT assistant captain
Jenna Carter (Whitby, Ont.) scored an empty netter to clinch the Ridgeback victory.
UOIT was 0-for-1 on their lone power play attempt while Brock went scoreless on four opportunities. Shots finished 27-21 in favour of Brock.
The Ridgebacks (4-1-9-1) are in a three-way tie for ninth place with Brock (4-1-9-1) and Windsor (4-1-8-1). The trio of teams trail Laurier (7-0-6-1) by seven points for the final playoff position.
UOIT will be in tough on Sunday afternoon when they host the first place Guelph Gryphons (9-3-2-1). Game time at the Campus Ice Centre is 3:30 p.m.
QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKSOverall Record: 7-10-1
Conference Record: 5-9-1
Next Game: Sunday, Jan. 17 vs. Guelph (3:30 p.m.)
Standings Note: W - 3 points; OTW - 2 points; OTL - 1 point; L - 0 points
