GUELPH, Ont. - In the final game before the winter break on Saturday afternoon (Dec. 2), the No. 6-ranked Gryphons women's hockey team stole a regulation win from the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks on home ice thanks to a last-minute, short-handed goal from rookie blueliner Reese Coffey. The Gryphons improve to 12-1-2 on the season and extend their lead over the rest of the OUA West to 11 points while the Ridgebacks fall to 5-8-2.

Third-year forward Tori Verbeek made the play behind the Ridgeback net pry a loose puck away from the Ontario Tech defender which found the stick of teammate Tiana Faccio. Faccio, a human kinetics major from Hamilton, would then send a cross-ice pass to Coffey alone in the centre of the Ridgebacks zone. Coffey, rookie defender, netted her third career goal with 43 seconds remaining to capture the win for the Gryphons. The goal also marked the first time this season that the U of G women's hockey team had scored short-handed.

Prior to the Gryphons scoring the go-ahead goal it was a tightly-contested game between the two teams, with both the Gryphons and Ridgebacks receiving impressive goaltending from Sophie Helfenstein and Zoe McGee. Helfenstein, who made just the third start of her career, earned the the second shutout win of her rookie season and third overall after making 17 saves. At the other end of the ice it took the Gryphons 30 shots, including 15 in the opening frame, to beat McGee. With the win the Gryphons now possess a dominant lead over the rest of the OUA West Division, with the Laurier Golden Hawks in 2nd-place trailing by 11 points. 

The Gryphons will return to action next year on January 5, 2024 when they head to Kingston to take on the Queen's Gaels in their first game back from the winter break. 
 

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