GUELPH, Ont. - After a week off, the Gryphons women's hockey team returned to action on home ice in a potential playoff preview versus the Brock Badgers on Tuesday afternoon at the Gryphon Centre. The Gryphons defeated the Brock Badgers 3-2 in overtime after an outstanding performance from
Tori Verbeek,
Hannah Tait and goaltender
Alexandrea Davidson, with Tait scoring the OT-winner 1:13 into the extra frame. The Gryphons improve to 9-1-1 on the season, and remain undefeated against the Brock Badgers (7-4-3) this season, with three wins over their rivals from St. Catharines this season.
It was an uncommon mid-day game for the Gryphons on Tuesday, with the two teams having met previously in a home-and-home series before the winter break. The first period began with the Gryphons icing a shortened bench, three forward lines and three defensive pairings. Despite their lack of bodies, the team's lines would shine. Rookie
Tori Verbeek had a breakout game, earning the first two goals of her Gryphon career. The right-handed centre from Flesherton, ON had amazing chemistry with 3rd-year
Hannah Tait as they combined on all three of the Gryphons goals.
The first came shortly after the Brock Badgers opened the scoring in the first off a Gryphon mistake that lead to a 5 on 3 short-handed goal for their opponents. An unshaken Gryphons line would come back, as
Hannah Tait fired it from the point and
Tori Verbeek tipped it home to tie the game. The two players would connect once again in the second period as they lifted the Gryphons to a 2-1 lead. Verbeek would score her second of the contest off a connection from
Hannah Tait and the Gryphons would head to the third with the lead.
With the seconds winding down in the final period and the regulation win in their sights, the Badgers would find a way to tie it up with just :02 seconds remaining in the final period to force overtime. Heading into their sixth consecutive overtime on home ice this season, the Gryphons were at an advantage despite their tired legs and lack of numbers, having won all of their previous overtimes. Team captain
Lauren Ianni, who left the game in the second period with an injury, would return to help anchor the team's push. With five minutes left in overtime,
Tori Verbeek would find
Hannah Tait once again. Tait, an Exeter, ON native, collected her own rebound and sent the puck home for her fourth of the season to end the game. The Gryphons remain undefeated in overtime on home ice this season, going six for six with right-winger
Hannah Tait coming in clutch for them in three overtime games.
Goalie and 3rd-year accounting major
Alexandrea Davidson was a difference-maker for Guelph, turning away 24 of 26 shots. The penalty kill held the Badgers to 0-3 on the power play in the game (with Brock now 0-8 on the power play in three games versus Guelph on the season).
The playoff-bound Gryphons now have two games remaining in their regular season schedule, and return to the Gryphon Centre ice again on Thursday night (March 3) for the front half of a home-and-home series versus the Laurier Golden Hawks. Puck drop on Thursday night is set for 7:30pm, with the Gryphons and Golden Hawks then meeting on Saturday (March 5) at 3pm in Waterloo.
