OSHAWA, Ont. – The UOIT women's hockey team gave the sold out crowd at the Campus Ice Centre something to cheer about as they beat the Toronto Varsity Blues 6-2 in the Ridgebacks inaugural school day game.
Over 600 fans jammed into the Campus Ice Centre as local elementary schools came to watch OUA women's hockey action.
"It was a great atmosphere at the rink today," said UOIT head coach
Justin Caruana. "The crowd was really supportive and the team responded with a big effort. We want to thank all of the schools for coming out today and showing off their Ridgeback pride."
The Ridgebacks scored a season-high six goals while netminder
Cassie Charette (Ottawa, Ont.) made 29 saves in her second straight victory.
Kassidy Nauboris (Brampton, Ont.), who visited the schools in the days leading up to the event, got the Ridgebacks on the board with a first period power play goal, with
Nicole Gorda (Edmonton, Alta.) picking up an assist. Nauboris is tied for the league-lead in goals with four this season.
Shanelle Doucette (Bowmanville, Ont.) would lead the offensive charge in the second period scoring two goals including one shorthanded with just over a minute remaining. Gorda would get the Ridgebacks other goal with
Mariah Wilson (Cobourg, Ont.) and
Chelsea Ball (Maple, Ont.) drawing assists in the period.
20 seconds after Toronto's Julia Szulewska cut the Ridgeback lead to 4-2,
Nicole LoPresti (Hamilton, Ont.) struck back with her first of the season to regain the three-goal lead.
UOIT captain
Mikaeli Cavell (Edmonton, Alta.) finished off the game banking one in on the power play, also marking her first goal of the season.
The Ridgebacks (2-2-1) jump into third place in the OUA standings while the Varsity Blues (2-2-0) are fourth, one point behind.
UOIT will close out weekend action on Sunday, Oct. 30 at home against the Ryerson Rams (1-0-2). Puck drop at the Campus Ice Centre is 3:30 p.m.
QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 3-5-2
Conference Record: 2-2-1
Next game: Sunday, Oct. 30 vs. Ryerson (3:30 p.m.)
