Looking to rebound from their lone loss of the season, the Nipissing Lakers women’s hockey team hosted the Ontario Ridgebacks for a rare mid-week game.
The Ridgebacks enter the contest with a 3-3-0 record, two points behind the Lakers, who are 4-1-0, but have a game in hand on Ontario Tech.
After a solid 60 minutes and some timely goals, the Lakers jumped back into the win column, topping the Ridgebacks 3-1.
In the opening period, the Lakers took control almost from puck-drop.
They generated more and better chances and pressure the Ridgebacks in the offensive zone, creating turnovers and opportunities regularly.
Late in the period, Lakers forward Maria Dominico was awards a penalty shot after she blew by the defender and got a chance on net, but was slashed in the process.
On the attempt, Dominico made no mistake, showing off her strong stickhandling ability and sliding the puck under the Ridgebacks goalie’s pad to give Nipissing a 1-0 lead with 1:44 left in the period.
After the opening 20 minutes of play, the Lakers earned a one goal lead over the Ridgebacks thanks to the penalty shot tally from Dominico.
Shots were 15-5 in favour of Nipissing.
In the middle frame, neither team was able to muster up much offence despite a good pace.
Just shy of the midway point, the Lakers doubled their lead after Maddison Stitt found the back of the net.
Dominico picked up her second point of the game, earning one assist, while captain Allison Hayhurst grabbed the other helper.
Nipissing went up by three with just over four minutes left in the middle stanza.
Malory Dominico made no mistake on a perfect cross-crease setup by Kara den Hoed.
Dominico slammed home the one-timer to put Nipissing up 3-0.
Roughly two minutes late, the Ridgebacks got on the board, as they snuck one past Lakers goalie Chloe Marshall to climb within two late in the period.
The late Ontario Tech goal made it 3-1 after 40 minutes in favour of Nipissing, who also led 30-19 in the shot department.
Up a pair entering the third period, the Lakers did a good job through the first half of the period to limit the Ridgebacks chances.
Playing a form of the trap, Nipissing closed down the neutral zone and cruised to the victory.
Marshall finished with 23 saves, while Nipissing fired 36 shots of their own at the Ontario Tech goalie.
Next up for the Lakers is the Break The Ice on Mental Health event, taking place Saturday evening.
Nipissing hosts the Laurier Golden Hawks for that contest.
Game time is set for 5 p.m. at Memorial Gardens.
