The Lakers came up with a big victory over one of their rivals, the York Lions, 4-3 Friday night at the Memorial Gardens.
Three players had multi-point games to pace the Lakers, while Chantelle Sandquist was solid in net, picking up the win.
The Lions opened up the scoring early in the first period, less than four minutes into the frame.
Less than a minute later, the Lakers tied the game thanks to Malory Dominico’s 11th of the season, set up by Brianna Gaffney and Melanie Young.
York regained the lead just past the midway point of the period, going up 2-1, but once again, the Lakers answered.
The second half of the Dominico tandem potted her eighth of the season, as Maria tied the game late in the period, sending the teams to the intermission deadlocked at 2-2.
Jetta Derenoski and Madison Solie earned helpers on the goal just before the end of the period.
For the third time in the game, the teams traded goals, but it was Nipissing grabbing the lead, as Derenoski put Nipissing up 3-2 with a goal just two minutes into the second.
Maria Dominico grabbed one assist, while Gaffney picked up her second assist of the contest.
York replied at 12:29 and tied the game shorthanded, send the game into the third period even, 3-3.
The lone goal and game-winning came off the stick of Gaffney, who completed a three-point night with her goal at 11:59.
The power play marker was assisted by Katelyn Heppner and Maria Dominico, who also finished with three points.
Derenoski also had a multi-point game, with a goal and an assist.
Sandquist finished with 28 saves in the victory, while Nipissing had 27 shots on the Lions goal.
Next up, the Lakers hit the road to take on Toronto and Ryerson on Feb. 7 and 8 in Toronto.
Lakers men doubled by McGill
The Nipissing Lakers men’s hockey team suffered a setback Friday night at Memorial Gardens.
The visitors from McGill doubled up the Lakers, topping Nipissing 6-3.
McGill scored the lone goal of the opening period to jump out to a 1-0 lead – an advantage they took to the first intermission.
The teams erupted for seven goals in the middle frame, with McGill burying four goals, while Nipissing answered with three.
After McGill went up 2-0 early thanks to a power play goal, the Lakers replied.
Mathieu Franche scored his first OUA goal, cutting into his team’s deficit.
Kyle Lewis picked up the lone assist on the goal.
McGill restored their two-goal lead a minute later and went up 3-1 before the Lakers responded again.
In total, the teams combined for six goals in under nine minutes.
Brett Hargrave scored to make the score 3-2 in favour of McGill, but less than a minute late, McGill built their advantage back to two goals.
They tacked on a late goal, with 1:25 left in the period and took a 5-3 lead into the third period.
The lone goal in the third was a shorthanded marker scored by McGill, as they sealed the win and escaped North Bay with the two points.
Lewis added another assist, while Matt Paul, Gael Lubwele and Colby Tower also picked up helpers in the contest.
Nipissing outshot McGill 46-30 in the end.
The Lakers will get back on the ice Saturday night as they host the Concordia Stingers.
Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Gardens.
