Queen's 2, Guelph 1
 
Guelph, Ont. (February 23, 2014) – The Guelph Gryphons women's hockey team ended their playoff run and season with a 2-1 loss to the Queen's Gaels on Sunday afternoon at the Gryphon Centre in game three of the OUA semi final series.
 
The Gryphons had an amazing season with a 21-3-0 record in the regular season, which included a 12 game win streak. The Gryphons had a 3-2 record in OUA playoffs.
 
With the series tied at 1-1, both the Gryphons and the Gaels started game three of the semi final series in a must-win situation. Immediately the game was much like the others in the series, stuck in a back-and-forth defensive battle. The Gryphons started the game doing an excellent job keeping the Gaels boxed out and preventing them from setting up in front of the net. The game was stuck in the neutral zone, with both teams finding it hard to make it through opposing defenders to put any pressure on the goaltenders.
 
The Gaels got the first power play of the game late in the first period after a hooking call on Michelle Sabourin at 16:26. The Gryphons were able to successfully kill off the penalty, with the Gaels finding it difficult to move the puck over the Guelph blue line. The Gaels were able to set up in front of the net for a very short time and got two shots off from the point through traffic, but Guelph goalie Stephanie Nehring was able to handle them easily and the game remained scoreless.
 
Jessica Pinkertonwas able to get make her way through the Gael defenders and get a shot off from inside the crease, but was unfortunately unable to beat the Queen's goalie Mel Dodd-Moher (Stittsville, Ont.) and the first period ended with no score. The Gryphons and the Gaels had both the score and the shots on goal count tied, ending the period with eight shots on goal each.
 
The Gaels started the second period aggressively, scoring in the first minute. Clare McKellar (London, Ont.) was able to make her way through the Gryphons defense on a breakaway, shooting from the top of the crease and finding the top corner of the net to make it 1-0 for the Gaels.
 
Queen's was able to dominate possession in the second period, setting up in front of the net and hammering shots at both the Gryphons defenders and goalies. The Gryphons were unable to box out the Gaels and take possession of the puck. Finally a turnover had a Gryphon player able to capitalize and take the puck down the ice. Guelph was unable to turn that opportunity into a goal, and ultimately lost possession of the puck. The Gaels spent the majority of the second period pushing the Gryphons to the boards, making sure that there was no way they could get a pass to the centre of the ice.
 
Queen's was able to get another breakaway goal after Taryn Pilon (Peterborough, Ont.) found the top right corner of the Gryphon net after a shot from the slot, to make it 2-0 for Queen's to end the second period.
 
The Gryphons would get a break in the third period after a tripping call on Queen's player Shawna Griffin (Redwood Meadows, AB.) at 5:44. The Gryphons were quick to set up off the face off and less than a minute after the power play started Kaitlyn Mora was able to take a shot and make it 2-1 for Queen's at 6:25 on the power play, with Averi Nooren and Leigh Shilton on the assists.
 
The momentum in the game shifted in Guelph's favour with nine shots on goal half way through the third period, and Queen's with none. The Gryphons would get another power play after a crosschecking call on Gael's player Courtenay Jacklin at 10:50. The Gryphons were quick to set up, almost scoring directly off the face off. A rebounded shot off the pads of Dodd-Moher would have Nooren set for a shot from inside the crease, but quick thinking from the Queen's goalie had her smothering the puck and stopping play. The Gaels would successfully kill the penalty and the score would remain at 2-1 for Queen's.
 
The Gryphons would pull goaltender Stephanie Nehring, hoping to capitalize on the extra man, but were unable to tie up the game.
 
The Gryphons outshot the Gaels 16-0 in the third period, and the total shots on goal would be 31-16. Despite an amazing effort by the Gryphons they would be unable to surpass the Gael's in scoring and the final score would be 2-1 for Queen's. The Gaels will now advance to the OUA finals and face either Toronto or Laurier.