Box Score
London, ON – Saturday evening (March 7) at Thompson Arena in London, the Western Mustangs defeated the Guelph Gryphons 2-0 in the OUA Championship game. With the win, the Mustangs win their first OUA title in women's hockey.
 
The opening period was a fast-pace, back-and-forth affair with both teams creating some quality scoring chances.  The Gryphons had several impressive individual rushes in the period, including a partial breakaway from Kelly Gribbons.  Gribbons would show some great strength to hold off a defender and get off a shot on Western goalie Kelly Campbell who would make the initial stop, before turning away the rebound chance as well.  After 20 minutes of play, the Gryphons and Mustangs were scoreless.
 
The first goal of the OUA Championship game would come 49 seconds into the second period when Western forward Sydney Kidd was able to jam the puck past Stephanie Nehring at the side of the net.  While it certainly was not the prettiest goal of the playoffs for Kidd, it was nevertheless part of what has been an impressive postseason for the Western forward as it marked her fifth goal in as many games this postseason.  After an interference penalty was called against Western later in the period, the Gryphons would create some great scoring chances on the power play.  After Katie Mora's point shot was stopped, the Gryphons would have a pair of point blank rebound shots turned aside by Campbell to keep it 1-0.  A similar situation would arise at the other end of the ice later in the period as the Mustangs would come agonizingly close to extending the lead to 2-0 on a power play of their own.  After a point shot was stopped by Nehring, the rebound would go right to Western's All-Star forward Kendra Broad, but she would fire just wide with a wide open net in front of her.  The second period excitement was not over there either.  With just under five minutes remaining in the period, Guelph captain Katie Mora would be sent in all alone on a clear cut breakaway, but she would be denied by the blocker of Campbell as the score remained 1-0 Western heading to the third period.
 
Just over five minutes into the third, the Mustangs would extend their lead to 2-0 thanks to OUA First Team All-Star forward Kendra Broad.  The transfer from Lindenwood University (NCAA D-1) would pick up some great speed coming into the Guelph zone before firing one past Nehring on the blocker side.  With the way that Westerns All-Star goalie was playing, scoring two just to tie was always going to be a tough task for the Gryphons who, to their credit, showed great fight and determination the remainder of the period.  Even with the goalie pulled however, the Gryphons were unable to find a way past Kelly Campbell who would record a shutout on the night and lead the Mustangs to a 2-0 victory.  For Western, it is the first OUA title in women's hockey in school history.
 
Both the Gryphons and Mustangs will now head west to Calgary for the CIS Championships (March 12-15). The seeding and schedule announcement for the CIS tournament will be take place on Monday, March 9^th at 10am.  For the Gryphons, this will be their third appearance at the CIS Women's Hockey Championships after competing at both the 1998 and 2000 National Championships.