The Queen’s women’s hockey team split the weekend with a 2-1 loss to the Guelph Gryphons on Saturday and a 5-2 win over the Brock Badgers on Sunday.
On Saturday, Guelph opened the scoring on a goal by forward Sarah McClinchey.
Queen’s goaltender Katie Boyd managed to keep the score 1-0 when the Gaels’ Amanda Morra took a hooking penalty.
The Gaels ran into more penalty trouble at the eight-minute mark of the second period, but stellar play by Boyd and the penalty killers allowed them to keep the game close. Forward Stephanie Dykes scored ten minutes into the third period to put Guelph up 2-0.
Gaels captain Cassie Sparks scored 16 minutes into the third period with assists from Victoria Kaufmann and Chantelle Johnson.
Queen’s went scoreless on seven power-play opportunities.
Despite the loss, Queen’s head coach Rob Lalonde said he was happy with the way the team played.
“That was our best game to date,” he said.
Lalonde said they had many good scoring opportunities but ran into a hot goaltender, Chelsey Roy.
On Sunday Queen’s rallied to beat Brock 5-2, scoring two power-play goals. Goaltender Melissa John kept the Gaels in the game during some penalty trouble in the second period.
Lalonde said John was instrumental in the Gaels’ victory.
“There was a long 5-on-3 and she really shut the door,” he said.
Lalonde added that he has been extremely happy with both goalies’ play.
“They work well together and encourage each other,” he said. “They are a bright light on our team.”
Second-year forward Liz Kench scored one goal and added an assist on Andrea LeBlanc’s goal.
On her goal, Kench controlled the play down low and walked out in front of the net before scoring high on the short side with a backhand shot. On LeBlanc’s goal, Kench blew down the wing and tossed the puck in front where LeBlanc, driving hard to the net, tapped it in.
The Gaels will face the York Lions Friday on the road before returning to host the University of Toronto at the Memorial Centre on Saturday night.
Lalonde said he thinks the team has improved, and that this weekend’s games may have been the turning point.
“I think we’ve turned things around, so hopefully we can keep it going.”
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