OSHAWA, Ont. – The Ontario Tech's women's hockey program began their 2019-20 season on home ice, falling 4-2 to the visiting Ryerson Rams.
 
The home team started the game with energy and had constant pressure in the offensive zone. Although keeping the Rams under duress, the Ridgebacks could not tally the opening goal. The teams heading into the first intermission with the Rams holding a two-goal lead after turning the tables in the last 10 minutes of the period.
 
"I thought we got off to a really good start for maybe the first five, ten minutes of the game," said head coach Justin Caruana. "They matched our intensity and we started playing behind the eight ball."
 
The Ridgebacks were able to cut the deficit in half early in the second frame while on the power play but saw Ryerson answer just over four minutes later. The teams would end the second trading two goals apiece, as the Ridgebacks found themselves trailing 4-2.
 
"It was good to see the life and the push back," Caruana said. "I thought we competed, we pushed the pace for the most part, but it just didn't go our way."
 
Although they were relentless throughout the third period, Ontario Tech could not solve the Rams netminder. The Ridgebacks will conclude their opening weekend doubleheader, when they host the No. 8 ranked Toronto Varsity Blues on Saturday afternoon.
 

LIGHT THE LAMP

• Avery Horlock (12:04) and Brooklyn Gemmill (17:35) provided the Rams with the 2-0 lead after the first period.
• Marissa Murphy (Odessa, Ont.) banged home a rebound at the side of the net off a Nicole Zabel (Palmerston, Ont.) point shot, on the power play at 2:24 of the second.

WHKY | 🚨Ridgebacks Goal🚨 Marissa Murphy deposits the rebound on the power play and scores the first @ontariotech_u goal of the season cutting the @ryersonrams lead to 2-1. pic.twitter.com/nxdpbZJdVp

— Ontario Tech Ridgebacks (@OT_Ridgebacks) October 19, 2019

• Mariah Hinds restored the Rams two-goal lead just four and half minutes later (6:55 of the second).
• At 11:35 of the second period, Lauren Nicholson made it 4-1 for the visitors.
• Megan Johnston (Goderich, Ont.) made it 4-2 with only 30 seconds left in the middle frame.
 

BETWEEN THE PIPES

• Brook Vial (Port Moody, B.C.) stopped 26 of the Rams 30 shots.
• Fanny Vigeant had 12 saves in the win.
 

RIDGEBACKS AT A GLANCE

Overall Record: 1-4-0
Conference Record: 0-1-0
 
Next Game: Saturday, Oct. 19 vs. Toronto Varsity Blues (3:30 p.m. – Campus Ice Centre)