OSHAWA, Ont. – The UOIT women's hockey team scored four power play goals in a 5-4 victory over the Ryerson Rams in their final OUA conference game of 2017.
 
Coming into the contest, UOIT had only scored one power play goal on 47 attempts but when trailing 3-1 in the second period, the Ridgebacks scored four straight goals with the man advantage to pick up the win and break up a four-game losing streak.
 
"It is nice to see our hard work finally pay off," said head coach Justin Caruana referring to the team's power play success on Saturday. "It's nice to get back on track heading into the holiday break as we look to make a push for the playoffs in the new year."



Kassidy Nauboris (Brampton, Ont.) was in all five Ridgeback goals, as she ended up with one goal and four assists. The five-point night matched the UOIT single-game point record that was set by Jill Morillo against the Western Mustangs on Oct. 22, 2011.
 
Linemate Chelsea Ball (Maple, Ont.) would score the final two goals of the game as she ended up with two goals and an assist. The game-winner came with seven minutes to go in the third period, putting the Ridgebacks up 5-3.
 
Also recording multi-point games were freshman Megan Johnston (Goderich, Ont.) who ended the night with three assists and captain Mikaeli Cavell (Edmonton, Alta.) who had a goal and an assist. Cavell's second period goal broke the Ridgebacks' slump on the power play.
 
Despite allowing four goals against, goaltender Celine Tessier (Chapleau, Ont.) made a season-high 39 saves in the win including several keep stops with her team in the lead. Tessier is fifth in the conference with a .949 save percentage in her first year with UOIT.
 
Rachel Seeley allowed four goals against off of 16 shots before being pulled in the second period for Sydney Authier who allowed one goal on 16 shots. Ryerson outshot UOIT 43-32.

Kryshanda Green, Alyssa Connolly, Karli Nummikoski and Ailish Forfar were the goal scorers for Ryerson while Julie Patricio had two assists.
 
UOIT heads into the break with a 3-2-6-1 record, getting within two points of Toronto (5-0-5-1) and Ryerson (3-3-4-1) for the final two playoff spots in the OUA.
 
The Ridgebacks will resume conference play in the new year as they hit the road to take on the Nipissing Lakers (Jan. 6) and Laurentian Voyageurs (Jan. 7).
 
The team will host Queen's in an exhibition game on Jan. 2 at the Campus Ice Centre beginning at 3:30 p.m.
 
QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 5-12-1
Conference Record: 5-6-1
 
Next Game: Jan. 2 vs. Queen's (3:30 PM – Campus Ice Centre)