WOMEN'S HOCKEY - Gryphons defeat Lions 3-2

GUELPH, ONT. - The Guelph Gryphons took on the York Lions today (Oct. 30^th) in Guelph at the Gryphon Centre. After a slow-paced first and second period, the Gryphons finally took off in the third and finished the game 3-2. This brings the Gryphons standings to 6-1-1 and drops the Lions to 4-3-0.

Guelph's Erin Small (Pickering, Ont.) continues her torrid scoring pace with a pair of goals in today's win.  The speedy forward now sits second in the OUA scoring with 14 points (7G, 7A). Kandace Charbonneau (Guelph, Ont.) tallied the other Gryphon goal while rookie Goalie Stephanie Nehring was in net making 19 saves.  

The first period was a slow start for both York and Guelph with little action in the first few minutes. The Gryphons finally made a move at 12:20 after Jackie Sollis (West Vancouver, BC) and Michelle Sabourin (Pickering, ON) set up Erin Small during a power-play. She got around York goalie Jessalyn Bogacki (Thunder Bay, ON) and fired in Guelph's first goal of the game. The Lions soon responded with a goal of their own from Katrina Tollis (Hamilton, ON) who was assisted by Stephanie Dovaston (Unionville, ON) and Kristie Wilson (Hamilton, ON).
  The Gryphons and the Lions fought through their stale-mate in the second period. Tamara Bell (Guelph, ON) had a number of opportunities in front of York's net but she couldn't get through Bogacki. The Gryphons gave the Lions a number of close-call opportunities after failing to connect passes, leaving their end vulnerable. 14 minutes into the second period the Gryphons had nine shots on net, while the Lions had 13 – both teams were unable to push hard enough to break through the lines. The second period ended with the scoreboard tied 1-1.

The Gryphons picked up their game in the third, and only 45 seconds in took the lead with their second goal during another power-play. Small scored once again for the Gryphons, assisted by Jessica Pinkerton (Oshawa, ON) and Sabourin. York was weakened after an injured player was removed from the game, and Guelph capitalized and grabbed their third goal from Kandance Charbonneau at 13:35. Samantha Ryder (West Vancouver, BC) assisted to Charbonneau who tried to lift the puck over Bogacki – she caught it in her glove over her head but it fell backwards into the net.
Small almost had her third goal this game after she broke away from the crowd down the right wing and took an unassisted shot, which Bogacki reflected out. Small took the rebound around the net but Bogacki shut it down again.

The Lions were determined to try and tie up the game and in the last minute pulled their goalie to give it full force. It paid off with their second goal from Wilson who quickly turned after a face-off and tossed the puck before Stephanie Nehring had a chance to react. Fortunately for the Gryphons the game ended before York could try for another and they took the final score 3-2.

The Gryphons next play the Waterloo Warriors on Nov. 5^th in Guelph. The game begins at 2pm.