LONDON Ont - The Western Mustangs women's hockey team squandered a third period lead, on route to losing 5-4 to the Brock Badgers in a shootout on Sunday Jan. 17th at Thompson Arena.
The loss certainly wasn't for a lack of effort, as the Mustangs hammered over 30 shots at Badgers goalie Beth Clause (Hamilton, Ont.).
Forward Katie Dillon (Oshawa, Ont.) had two goals in the losing effort getting set up on both goals by Ellie Seedhouse (Whitby, Ont.) and Chantal Morais (Guelph, Ont.), who each finished with two assists each in the game.
The Mustangs started slow, and trailed after the first period, but two quick strikes in the second, just 12 seconds apart, gave the Mustangs the lead. That lead would be preserved until just over five minutes left in the third, when Badgers forward Shannon McLeod (Port Dover, Ont.) scored to tie the game up at four.
After giving up a two goal lead in the third period the game headed to over time where nothing was solved. In the shootout it was once again McLeod who put the dagger into the Mustangs with a nifty backhand goal in the fourth shootout round to win the game.
The two goal lead agaisnt the Badgers was the second the team had let slip away this weekend.The other was a 4-1 lead over Guelph. Mustangs Assistant coach Ted Brown was dissapointed with the loss.
"Well, obviously to lose in that fashion in two straight games it's demoralizing, but there are positives to take from it," said Brown "We're focusing on the positives, we've been scoring four times a game, and out-shooting our opponents on a regular basis."
Key mistakes at costly times ultimately cost the Mustangs.
"It just seemed as though we'd make one little mistake and that would result in a goal against," Brown said.
The Mustangs were only able to pot one goal on the power play despite nine chances with an opponent in the penalty box.
Up next, the Mustangs will travel to Wilfrid Laurier, to take on the undefeated Golden Hawks on January 23rd at the Sun Life Financial Arena.
BOX SCORE
Brock 5 Western 4 (SO)
(January 17th, 2010 at Thompson Arena, London Ont.)
1st Period
1. Brock, Young 1 (Piotrowski, Sutherland), 18:19.
Penalties-McLeod Bro (slashing), 3:23; McLeod Bro (elbowing), 6:49; Morais Uwo (high sticking), 8:10; McLeod Bro (high sticking), 12:04; Seedhouse Uwo (body checking), 16:08; Rellinger Uwo (holding), 19:44.
2nd Period
2. Western, Sisler 1 (Cox, Harada), 4:20.
3. Western, Dillon 7 (Seedhouse, Morais), 4:32.
4. Western, Gidomski 3 (Repath, Hewins), 10:06.
5. Brock, Dewsbury 2 (Geary, Simms), 17:41.
Penalties-Wilson Bro (roughing), 1:01; Dillon Uwo (high sticking), 1:01; TEAM UWO (too many men), 10:49; Brady Bro (interference), 12:39; Stevens Bro (roughing after the whistle), 15:30.
3rd Period
6. Western, Dillon 8 (Seedhouse, Morais), 0:28 (pp).
7. Brock, Walker 4 (Young), 1:47 (sh).
8. Brock, McLeod 6 (McIlmoyle, Simms), 14:26.
Penalties-Dewsbury Bro (interference), 0:00; Samborski Bro (hooking), 0:17; Walker Bro (elbowing), 4:20; Walker Bro (hooking), 10:14; Rellinger Uwo (interference), 10:32; Morais Uwo (body checking), 11:38.
OT Period
No Scoring.
No Penalties.
Shootout - Brock 2 (Walker NG, Lee NG, Dewsbury G, McLeod G) Western 1 (Morais NG, Seedhouse NG, Hewins G, Rellinger NG).
Goalies-Brock, Clause 6-12-1 (33 shots-29 saves). Western, Martin 2-1-2 (23 shots-19 saves).
Power Play Opportunities-Brock 0 of 6; Western 1 of 9.
