Box Score
Guelph, ON - The Guelph Gryphon's women's hockey team was staring up at the powerhouse Queen's Gaels in the OUA standings. But an Averi Nooren hat trick and a 24-save performance from Valerie Lamenta lifted the Gryphons to a convincing 4-1 win on home ice Sunday afternoon, handing Queen's its first regulation loss of the year. Marcie Landman also scored for the Gryphons (6-2-0-0), her first of the season.

Nooren, who leads the team in goals with six, was by far the best player on the ice. The fourth-year winger from Aylmer, ON got Guelph on the board late in the first period on a power play, depositing the rebound from a Leigh Shilton point shot with just 14 seconds left before intermission. And she got right back at it just 3:33 into the second, after getting down low to the right of Queen's goaltender Caitlyn Lahonen and quickly getting a shot off as defender took a swipe at her stick.

Nooren completed the hat trick with Guelph up 3-1 late in regulation. She took the puck around centre ice and launched it from well behind the blue line on the right wing, capping an impressive offensive outburst. Scoring chances were understandably at a premium early between the two defensive-minded teams, as Queen's entered the game allowing just 0.70 goals per game and Guelph not far behind at 0.90. The Gryphons were a little flat from the opening faceoff but picked up some offensive momentum as the period went on.

After Nooren put Guelph up 2-0, the Gaels answered back with a big goal on a power play of their own. Taryn Pilon parked in front of Lamenta's crease and was able to lift a shot just under the crossbar that made it 2-1 entering the third. Landman's goal was a beautiful effort, as well as an important goal with Queen's pushing for an equalizer. She took a nice drop pass in the slot and rifled a shot past Lahonen at 5:55, reestablishing a two-goal cushion.

While Nooren provided most of the offence, Lamenta was rock solid in net. With Stephanie Nehring nursing a minor hamstring injury, the second-year goaltender from Montreal was in for her fourth straight start and looked calm and composed the whole time. One of her best stops came just after Nooren scored to make it 2-0. Nadia Larocca came steaming in on a breakaway but Lamenta coolly stood her ground and denied the scoring chance at a critical point in the game.

Guelph has won four straight and have tied Queen's (5-1-1-1) with 18 points atop the OUA. The Gryphons have also allowed a league-low seven goals against in eight games.

Guelph is now able to enter a two-week break on a high. The team travels to Windsor Saturday, Nov. 14 to take on the Lancers. Game time is 4:00 pm.

Note: Sunday's game versus Queen's was also "G.G.H.A. Day" at the Gryphon Centre (Guelph Girls Hockey Association). Pictures below.