Lakers net key playoff win over Blues

With their playoff lives on the line, the Nipissing Lakers women's hockey team came to play.

The Lakers used a dominant first period to build up a three-goal lead and held on to take Game two 4-1 over the Toronto Varsity Blues, forcing a third and deciding game Sunday in Toronto.

Nipissing couldn't have asked for a better first period, as they came out flying and found the back of the net three times to take a 3-0 lead into the first intermission.

Brianna Gaffney got things started, burying one less than four minutes into the first.

Kaley Tienhaara and and Jetta Derenoski picked up the helpers on the game's opening goal.

Two goals a minute apart put Nipissing up by three.

Marilyn Fortin doubled the Lakers lead with an unassisted goal and 1:01 later, Sam Strassburger scored shorthanded, set up by Kaitlyn McManus, to give the Lakers a healthy lead after 20 minutes.

In the middle frame, the pace remained high, but just the one goal was scored.

Toronto found the back of the net to cut into the Lakers' lead, but it was still the Lakers who finished the period up a pair.

Leading 3-1 after 40 minutes, the Lakers limited the Blues to very little offensively.

The Blues did find the back of the net to cut into the Nipissing lead, but the Lakers answered back late in the period.

Jade Gauthier banged home a loose puck to make it 4-1 in favour of the home team and from there, they cruised to the victory.

McManus earned her second assist of the night on Gauthier's insurance marker.

Lakers goalie Danika Ranger was very good in net, finishing with 23 saves while earning the victory.

The Lakers fired 27 at the Toronto net.

Game three, to decide who moves on to Round two, goes Sunday at 4 p.m. in Toronto at Varsity Arena.