Box Score
GUELPH, Ont. – The Guelph Gryphon women's hockey team defeated the Western Mustangs 3-1 today (Jan. 12) at the Gryphon Centre. Winners of seven straight, the Gryphons advance to 14-3-2 on the season while the Mustangs drop to 12-4-1.
Tamara Bell (Guelph, Ont) was the first to strike on the scoreboard for her eighth on the season. She was helped out by
Jessica Pinkerton (Oshawa, Ont) who scored the final two goals for the Gryphons for her seventh and eighth goals respectively of the year. Western's Stacey Scott (London, Ont) scored her ninth of the season as the lone goal scorer for the Mustangs.
The first period opened up with both teams creating strong opportunities in scoring territory, but neither squads were able to push it past the defensive front to take control. After several unsuccessful attempts, the Mustang forwards were able to get the puck through the neutral zone to create a 3-on-2 opportunity only to be stomped out by Gryphon goalie
Stephanie Nehring (Oshawa, Ont.) strong play in the crease. However, Guelph's Jessica Pinkerton (Oshawa, Ont) was sent to the box on the ensuing scramble behind the net. Guelph's penalty kill was pivotal in keeping the Mustang forwards out of scoring range to create excellent short-handed opportunities.
As the dying seconds of the penalty clicked down, Pinkerton's return to the ice created an immediate chance for Jenna Lanzarotta (Mississauga, Ont) to feed Tamara Bell (Guelph, Ont) in the slot to hammer home Guelph's go-ahead at 7:58. But after troubling the Western defence for the majority of the first, Tara Cation (Caledon, Ont) was able to push the puck to Stacey Scott (London, Ont) to squeak in the tying goal at 12:54.
After a minute of play in the second period, Western's Katelyn Gosling (London, Ont) was called for interference to give the Gryphons an early one-man advantage. The Gryphons were able to move the puck smoothly in the Western zone to allow
Kimberley Wong (Mississauga, Ont) a shot from the point. Jessica Pinkerton was ready in the crease to provide the misdirection to regain a one-goal Gryphon lead at 1:20 in the second.
In the second,
Brittney Crawford (Guelph, Ont) was sent to the bin putting the pressure on Guelph's penalty kill. And just as Crawford's penalty was winding down, she was joined by Jenna Lanzarotta to give the Mustangs a 5-on-3 advantage. The Gryphon penalty kill remained strong to continue the Mustang's powerplay drought as they dropped to 0-5 at the end of two. The Gryphons were able to hold onto their lead thanks to strong defensive play to end the second at 2-1.
The Mustangs came into the final frame with pace to control a fierce tempo with rookie forward Kryshanda Green (Caledon, Ont) making a strong drive at the net. But Stephanie Nehring playing in her first game of the season was determined to hold down her crease and shut down the first of two Western shots in the first ten minutes. Green continued her tenacious play by breaking through the Gryphon defenders but was unable to sneak past Nehring who slid across to push the puck away to hold onto her 2-1 lead.
Wasting no opportunities, Guelph's Jessica Pinkerton was able to sneak her second of the night at 9:37 in the third, through a jumble of bodies in front of the Western net to boost her team to a 3-1 advantage.
Christine Grant (Mississauga, Ont) and
Amanda Parkins (Kitchener, Ont) were there on the assist.
With 3:39 left on the clock, the Mustangs found themselves in a 5-on-3 opportunity. After the Western coaches pulled Katie Jacobs, the Gryphons faced a 3-man deficit but were able to kill the powerplay by continuously keeping the Mustangs out of scoring position.
The Gryphons play once again at the Gryphon Centre tomorrow (Jan. 13) to complete their doubleheader as they host the Windsor Lancers. The puck drops in the Gryphon Centre at 2:00 pm.
