The losses continue to mount for the Nipissing Lakers Varsity Men's Hockey team as its playoff hopes took another hit Sunday night.
After playing a very strong game and posting a big second period, the Lakers were on the wrong end of a weird goal with about five minutes left in the game, as the UOIT Ridgebacks escaped North Bay with a 4-3 victory over Nipissing.
Leading 3-2 after 40 minutes, the Lakers allowed two goals in the third, including the floater that decided the game.
A fast-paced first period saw the Ridgebacks score the lone goal, but it was the Lakers with more shots and better chances, including a post on a power play in the opening 20 minutes.
Nipissing tied the game early in the second period when Colin Campbell ripped a shot over the right shoulder of UOIT goalie Brendan O’Neill, the former Battalion backup for Jake Smith back in 2013-14.
Mitch McNeill earned the assist on the tying goal.
The Lakers took the lead before the midway point of the period, while killing a penalty, as Campbell scored his second of the night and 10 th of the season after taking a breakaway feed from Danny Desrochers.
UOIT evened things up with under three minutes to go, but 12 seconds late Jimmy McDowell gave the lead back to Nipissing.
Dylan Staples and Desrochers picked up the assists on the go-ahead goal, as Nipissing took that 3-2 lead to the second period intermission.
In the third, UOIT would strike early and again late to come away with the comeback victory.
The Ridgebacks outshot the Lakers 32-27, as Lakers starting goalie Talor Joseph finished with 258 saves in a strong effort.
The loss drops the Lakers record to 6-14-1 good for 13 points. They are six points behind the Laurentain Voyageurs for 8th spot in the OUA East.
The Lakers will now hit the road and face Carleton and McGill next weekend.
Lakers women victorious in London
To be a successful team, you need different players to step up at different times and that's exactly what the Nipissing Lakers women's hockey team got Sunday.
Led by their veteran goalie and third-year captain, the Lakers made it a perfect weekend on the road, as they topped the Western Mustangs 3-1.
Leading the way was Kaley Tienhaara, who recorded a hat-trick, scoring all three Nipissing goals, and goalie Jackie Rochefort, who made 26 saves for the win.
Tienhaara entered the game with just one goal on the season, although she had 10 points, but stepped up big time in the goal department, helping the Lakers to their 12th win of the season.
Tienhaara scored her first of three in the first period, the opening frame's lone goal as she grabbed the puck and made no mistake in tight.
Taylor McManus picked up the assist on the opening goal.
Western would tie the game in the second period, as the team's finished 40 minutes even at one, with the shots favouring the Mustangs 13-8.
Tienhaara would complete the hat-trick, which included the game-winner and an empty-netter in the third, as she was all the offence Nipissing would need.
McManus earned her second assist of the game, as well as Alexane Papineau and Laura McKenzie, who drew assists on the two third period goals.
Rochefort won her second straight start, making 26 saves, including 14 in the final period.
Nipissing improves to 12-2-2 on the season and sits five points back of Guelph with a game in hand.
The Lakers will return to home ice for four straight games, beginning with Toronto and Ryerson next weekend, on Friday and Saturday night.
