TORONTO, ON - Wednesday night at the Canlan Ice Sports Arena on the campus of York University, the No. 5-ranked Gryphons women's hockey team extended their winning streak to five straight after winning 4-1 over the York Lions. With the win, the Gryphons move into first place in the OUA standings and improve to 7-1-1. The Lions meanwhile fall to 2-4-2.

For the Gryphons and the Lions, Wednesdsay night's game marked their second meeting in seven days. Last Thursday (Nov. 3), the Gryphons needed overtime to get past the Lions in a 4-3 win at the Gryphon Centre. On Wednesday night in Toronto, the Lions once again seemed poised to give the defending OUA champs all they could handle. York jumped out to a 1-0 lead just over three minutes into the opening period thanks to a goal from Justine Treadwell. The Gryphons would answer back like you might expect from the reigning McCaw Cup champs.

Just :37 seconds after York's opening goal, the Gryphons would tie the game up at 1-1 thanks to Kaitlin Lowy's third goal of the season. Kelly Gribbons and Claire Merrick picked up assists on the play. And 7:08 into the second period, the Lowy-Gribbons-Merrick line would produce once again. 

Lowy's second of the night would come on a 2-on-1. After Merrick slid the puck over to Lowy, Lowy would go high blocker side to beat York goalie Lauren Dubie to put the Gryphons up 2-1. The York Lions will certainly be happy to see Lowy leave town. In two games versus the Lions this season, Kaitlin Lowy has racked up four points (3 G, 1 A).

In the third period, the Gryphons would push their lead to 3-1 after rookie forward Stephanie Gava would extend her goal scoring streak to three games. Claire Merrick would round out the scoring and cap off a three-point night with her first of the season as the Gryphons used four unanswered goals to leave York with a 4-1 win.

Valerie Lamenta turned away 30 of the 31 shots sent her way for her sixth win of the season and lowered her goals against average to 1.22.

Up next for the Gryphons, a McCaw Cup re-match with the Western Mustangs on Saturday (Nov. 12). Puck drop is set for 2pm at the Gryphon Centre. The Gryphons lost 3-2 in overtime to Western back on October 7th in the regular season home opener.