GUELPH, Ont. – A dominant performance in net from fifth-year All-Canadian
Valerie Lamenta and a timely goal from captain
Kaitlin Lowy. As it turns out, that has become familiar formula for the No. 7-ranked Guelph Gryphons women's hockey team when it comes to facing the Queen's Gaels. Back on January 5, Lamenta (29-save shutout) and Lowy (game-winning goal) were the key figures in a 1-0 Guelph win at Queen's. And on Sunday afternoon at the Gryphon Centre, the two veterans once again led the way for U of G, this time in a 4-1 victory over their rivals from Kingston.
Lamenta turned away 31 shots in net for the win, while Lowy scored her team-leading 13th goal of the season with a highlight reel effort with seven minutes remaining in the 3rd period to restore a two-goal cushion. Sunday's win was Guelph's fifth in a row and ninth in their last 10 games overall.
Following a 6-2 victory over UOIT on Saturday on home ice, the Gryphons were once again in fine form on Sunday, with power play goals from
Karli Shell and
Nicole MacKinnon giving the Gryphons a 2-0 lead heading to the 3rd period. For MacKinnon, a rookie forward from Mississauga, it marked her third goal of the season and second in as many games. Shell meanwhile, followed up a two-goal performance on Saturday versus the Ridgebacks with another goal on Sunday, this one coming from in close off a rebound from a Kaitlin Lowy shot. Guelph would also add an empty netter late, with
Sydney Davison getting credit when a misdirected back pass from Queen's wound up in their own net.
The visiting Gaels threw everything they had at the Gryphons over the final 20 minutes, outshooting Guelph 20-5 in the 3rd period. At the midway point of the 3rd, Queen's was rewarded with a power play marker from Caroline DeBruin, who was able to jam one home from in tight to trim the deficit to 2-1. Just over a minute later, however, Gryphon captain Kaitlin Lowy would respond, cutting in on the rush and firing home a perfectly placed shot high, glove side to beat Queen's goalie Stephanie Pascal to put the Gryphons up 3-1.
It would be Lowy's final involvement in the game, unfortunately, as the OUA West all-star suffered an upper-body injury during the scoring play. Lowy was able to skate to the bench under her own power but did not return.
Lamenta meanwhile, who has now turned away 60 of the 61 shots she has faced in two meetings with Queen's this season, was sharp throughout the game. In the opening period, Gaels forward Hailey Wilson jumped on a Gryphon turnover and was in all alone versus Lamenta, only to be denied by a quick, glove save. Over the final 40 minutes, the Montreal native constantly battled through screens to steer away shots, helping the Gryphons successfully kill of six of the seven Queen's power play opportunities on what was a penalty-filled day.
Sunday's win now puts Guelph six points clear of second-place Western, with the Gryphons set to meet up Saturday night (Feb. 2) in London. The last time the Gryphons and Mustangs met was back on November 3 in Guelph where the Gryphons came out on top 2-0.
Gryphon Take
"Whenever we get together with Queen's, it seems like it always makes for playoff-like hockey, and this game was no different. Special teams played a big role in today's outcome and we feel like our power play unit has a bit more structure to it than it has in the past. The girls are doing a really nice job of communicating with each other in terms of adjusting to the different styles of PK's we've seen.
As usual, Val (Lamenta) made some really big saves for us when we needed them.
All four of our lines have been contributing for us in the second half which helps take some of the pressure off of our top line." – head coach Rachel Flanagan
The Record
Guelph is 14-2-1-2 (wins-losses-OT/SO wins-OT/SO losses)
Next up
@ Western Mustangs – Saturday, Feb. 2 (7pm)
