LONDON, Ont. – The UOIT women's hockey team were officially eliminated from the postseason after a 3-1 loss to the Western Mustangs on Sunday afternoon.
This marks the third consecutive season UOIT will not play in the postseason after having back-to-back playoff berths in 2013 and 2014.
Despite not reaching the playoffs, UOIT will have a chance to record their most wins in a season since 2014 with one in their final two games of the regular season. The Ridgebacks will close out the year at home with games against Laurier (Saturday) and Waterloo (Sunday).
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Just over the midway point of the first period, Alyssa Chiarello was able to fire a shot from the slot past Ridgeback netminder
Briar Hughes (Thornton, Ont.) top corner for a 1-0 Western lead. Her eighth goal of the year came on the power play.
Less than two minutes later, freshman Brianna Rice scored her first career OUA goal as she sent the puck towards the net and it slipped under Hughes' glove while trying to cover it.
At the 17:43 mark of the second period assistant captain
Jenna Carter (Whitby, Ont.) cut the lead to one when she buried a shot top-corner on a two-on-one break. For Carter, it was her second goal of the year as
Shanelle Doucette (Bowmanville, Ont.) recorded the assist.
Late in the final frame with UOIT pressing for the equalizer, defender Emma Pearson scored off a deflected point shot for the third and final Western goal.
Hughes finished with 19 saves for UOIT in two periods while
Tori Campbell (Saskatoon, Sask.) came into the game in relief and made eight third period stops. Their counterpart Katie Jocobs stopped 18 for the Mustangs.
The Ridgebacks are now 8-9-5 heading into their final home stand of the season.
QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 9-12-6
Conference Record: 8-9-5
Next game: Saturday, Feb. 18 vs. Laurier (3:30 PM – Oshawa, Ont.)
