LONDON, Ont. - The Western Mustangs improved to 5-1-1 against OUA schools with a 15-4 win over Guelph and 16-4 win over McMaster on Oct. 9.

Nicole Pullen Shelburne, Ont., led the way for Western with 10 goals in two games.

In the win over Guelph, Pullen led the Mustangs with seven points (5G, 2A), while Emmi Morris added three goals and an assist.

Freshman forward Kristen Stafford also tallied a hattrick, while fellow freshman Alyssa Childs popped in a pair.

Single goals came from Carrie White and Larissa Boychuk.

After Western gave up the first goal, the teams traded off to a 2-2 tie until the 13-minute mark when Western rattled off seven unanswered goals to take a 9-2 lead into the half. 

Guelph was unable to contain Western's speed and could not find an answer for a solid transition game.
Western continued 30 seconds into the second half on Stafford powerplay goal followed by Pullen’s fifth goal of the game. 

Freshman goalie Cait Mancuso stopped 12 shots for the win.

"With Guelph coming off another big 15-10 win over Toronto, we were not sure what to expect," said head coach Dave Hastings. "Much like our first game with Guelph, it started slow but our defence settled in and our offence took over." 

"Pullen and Morris both had a great games but we saw some great scoring touch today from freshman Kristen Stafford and Alyssa Childs," Hastings said.

The sophomore head coach said he was also very pleased with "the outstanding defensive work by Cara Colavecchia and Christina Burns."

"And Mancuso. Solid, solid, solid. Enough said."

Later in the day, Western smashed McMaster 16-4, with Pullen netting five goals.

Morris added three goals and two assists, while Stafford continued her fine play with a pair of goals and one assist.

Boychuk (2G), Rebecca Watson (1G, 1A), Childs (1G, 1A), Betty Turowec (1G), Kelsey Crean (1G) and Adrianna Clapp (1A) rounded out the scoring.

It was a slow start for Western with McMaster holding a 1-0 lead until the 10:34 mark of the first quarter.
But Western responded with nine unanswered goals - four from Pullen- to take a 9-2 lead into the half. 

Morris tallied just 26 seconds into the second half.

Manusco made 13 stops for the win.

"As usual our big scorers led the way but nine different players contributed to the scoresheet this game," Hastings said. "We were pleased with the balanced scoring and particularly pleased with the terrific play from Kelsey Crean, who popped a nice left-handed goal, Adrianna Clapp, who made some great feeds, and Clare Webb, one of the hardest working players of the day." 

"We also got our first look at Jamie Carver who was very impressive since being away from the game for over a year."

Without the services of Lauren Crape, away at Team Canada camp, and freshman Kristen Johnson, Western won both games by lopsided scores.

"It was a good weekend for the ladies coming off a bye week," Hastings said. "We simply need to keep practicing to tighten things up and stay consistent. There are always times when things do not go your way and we have to prepare for them."

Western hosts the OUA Championships Oct. 29-31 at Citywide Fields in London. Next up are games on Oct. 17 against McMaster and Toronto.