OSHAWA, Ont. – The UOIT women's hockey team came close, but were unable to hand the CIS ranked No. 1 Guelph Gryphons their fourth loss of the season on Sunday afternoon.
 
In their first home game in nearly a month, the Ridgebacks fell 3-2 to Guelph at the Campus Ice Centre.
 
Jenna Carter (Whitby, Ont.) opened the scoring for UOIT on the power play with assists by Nicole Gorda (Edmonton, Alta.) and Shanelle Doucette (Bowmanville, Ont.) just 4:50 into the game.
 
Mackenzie Wong answered quickly for Guelph with her tally just 29 seconds later to tie the game 1-1.
 
The Gryphons went ahead 2-1 before the end of the period off a goal by Leigh Shilton at the 13:05 mark.
 
Early in the second Guelph took a two-goal lead as Sophie Contant notched the Gryphons third of the game at the 2:45 mark.
 
With 4:28 to go in the second Gorda answered for the Ridgebacks, cutting the lead to one. Nicole LoPresti (Hamilton, Ont.) and Tailor Campbell (Palmerston, Ont.) assisted on the goal.
 
Neither team scored in the third period as Stephanie Nehring made 18 saves for Guelph in the victory, while Cassie Charette (Ottawa, Ont.) turned aside 29 Gryphon shots in the loss.
 
UOIT will continue their home stand next Saturday as they host the Waterloo Warriors. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Campus Ice Centre. The Ridgebacks will wrap up their three-game stretch at home on Sunday, Jan. 24 at 3:30 p.m. when the Laurier Golden Hawks come to town.
 
 
QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 7-11-1
Conference Record: 5-10-1
 
Next game: Saturday, Jan. 23 vs. Waterloo Warriors (7:30 PM)
 
Standings Note: W - 3 points; OTW - 2 points; OTL - 1 point; L - 0 points