GUELPH – The Guelph Gryphons women's hockey team are experienced enough to know how to rebound when necessary. A day after a rare loss, the Gryphons showed their resilience against a team they often have trouble with. No. 6 Guelph scored three first-period goals in a decisive 4-1 win over the UOIT Ridgebacks at the Gryphon Centre Sunday afternoon.
 
The Gryphons (14-5-0), who lost 1-0 in a tight matchup with the OUA-leading Queen's Gaels Saturday, showed their hunger early against UOIT.
 
"It was great to have a response like that, especially our first period," said head coach Rachel Flanagan, who felt her team out-chanced Queen's. "I thought we let our foot off the gas a little bit in the second but we responded well in the third to find a way."
 
Captain Kaitlin Lowy took sole possession in the OUA goal-scoring race with two markers Sunday. Lowy scored her 13^th of the season in the first period and added an empty-netter late to ice the game. Emma Forcey and Claire Merrick also scored for Guelph, while Aurore Beaulieu made 21 saves in between the pipes.
 
The Gryphons showed no residual effects from Saturday's loss to the Gaels. They took an early hooking minor but after killing off the penalty, got to work in the offensive zone. Lowy scored Guelph's first of three in the opening period, beating UOIT goaltender Celine Tessier on the blocker side at 8:37.

Flanagan knows the offensive contribution from her star forward is important but noted how much else Lowy does for the team. 
 
"She's a natural leader," the coach said of Lowy, who also leads the team in penalty minutes. "She takes her job as captain of our team very seriously."
 
"We need grit and passion and Kaitlin is leading the way, trying to encourage everyone. Her biggest asset today was that she was able to move pucks and then move into ice to get them back. Sometimes we struggle with players over handling pucks and getting caught but she did a great job."
 
Forcey parked in front of the crease and found Tessier's five-hole after taking a nice feed from Lawrence, who was behind the UOIT net. Merrick made it 3-0 with a one-timer from in close, for Guelph's third goal in a span of just over nine minutes.
 
The Ridgebacks looked much better in the second period and had a great chance when they were awarded a 5-on-3. Guelph killed off the penalties but UOIT got on the board minutes later when Grace Donaldson unloaded a high shot from the top of the right circle that got past Beaulieu at the 12:43 mark.
 
Guelph was missing veterans Kelly Gribbons and Meagan Lee, though the depth of the team showed in a good performance. Flanagan said it was an opportunity for other players to log extra ice time, which will help as the season winds down.
 
"Some of our younger players had to take on bigger roles today than maybe they're used to," she said. "That's great because we want them to take on more responsibility."
 
Guelph is back on home ice Thursday, Feb. 1 when Brock comes to town. The game starts at 7:30 pm.