Lancers defeat Voyaguers in shootout to open 2015

The Lancer women's hockey team opened 2015 with a hard earned 5-4 win over the visiting Laurentian Voyageurs in a shoot-out on Friday night at South Windsor Arena.
 
With the win, the Lancers are 10-2-3 on the season heading into Saturday night's contest against the Nipissing Lakers.
 
It was Laurentian who got on the score sheet first, as Nicole Vigilanti put one past Windsor goaltender Marissa Kozovski five minutes into play to put them up 1-0. The Lancers tied it up late in the first on the powerplay, as Jenny MacKnight made an up ice pass to spring a breakaway for Candice Chevalier, where she made no mistake.
 
In the second period, the Lancers went to the powerplay again and Adelena Tridico notched her first of the season from the blue line, with assists from Natalie Barette and Jillian Rops to give the Lancers a 2-1 lead.
 
Windsor struck again as Tridico found an open Krystin Lawrence in front of the net to make the score 3-1. The Voyaguers battled back to narrow the score to 3-2 going into the third period with a goal from Jessica Staats.
 
Laurentian came out strong in the final period as Samantha Morell scored just over two minutes in to tie the score at 3 apiece. The Lance's kept battling, and it was MacKnight who found the back of the net to give the Lancers the 4-3 lead. However, on a defensive breakdown, the Lancers let Ellery Veerman in alone shorthanded, where she put one between the legs of Kozovski to tie the game 4-4.
 
The 4-on-4 overtime saw many chances for the Lancers as they were sent to the powerplay, but Laurentian goaltender Emily Toffoli turned away every shot, sending the game into a shootout.
 
It was MacKnight who launched the shootout winner with a beautiful move placing the puck over the shoulder of Toffoli.
 
Windsor will host the Nipissing Lakers (7-6-1) Saturday night at 7:30pm at South Windsor Arena.