The Gaels women’s hockey team returned home from Toronto Sunday night after achieving mixed results.
Queen’s was shut out 4-0 Saturday against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues but rebounded Sunday to defeat the York Lions 5-3.
The second-place Blues dominated the play from the opening faceoff. Queen’s starting goalie Melissa John, last week’s CIS athlete of the week, was peppered with 39 shots throughout the game. At the other end of the rink, the Gaels’ offence put in a lacklustre effort, mustering a measly 12 shots on net.
The Gaels bounced back against the sixth-place York Lions. The first period buzzer sounded with the Lions ahead of the Gaels 2-1. Two quick goals from Queen’s in the second temporarily put them on top, but York scored with five minutes remaining in the period to tie the score 3-3.
Captain Cassie Sparks scored the game winning goal for Queen’s at 10:22 of the third period and added an assist to finish with a two-point night. Becky Conroy and Kelsey Thomson scored a goal and two assists to lead Queen’s in scoring with three points each. Amanda Morra and Liz Kench scored the other two Gaels goals.
Queen’s goaltender Katie Boyd made 30 saves in her first start in five games.
Head coach Rob Lalonde said he was disappointed with the Gaels’ effort against Toronto.
“We didn’t play well at all,” he said, adding that the team’s power play, which was scoreless on the weekend in 10 opportunities, needs some work.
“The power play needs to be more consistent. We need to be able to get more shots on net,” he said.
The team turned themselves around in the York game, Lalonde said.
“I was proud of the way the girls rallied. They skated much better and had a number of really nice scoring opportunities,” he said.
The win against York secured Queen’s a playoff berth with a record of 11-9-6-0. But with a slim two-point lead on Windsor for fourth in the OUA, home ice advantage is still up in the air.
A win next weekend at Guelph will keep Queen’s in the fourth spot, assuring them a home game in round one.
Boyd said she thinks a home playoff game would help the team.
“I think it’s a big advantage to have our playoff game at home,” she said. “We’ll be more rested, and it’ll give our friends and family a better opportunity to see our game.” Next Sunday’s 2 p.m. game at Guelph is the Gaels’ final regular-season game. Lalonde said the team can’t afford a loss.
“We need to take at least one point from Guelph.”
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