OSHAWA, Ont.- The Western Mustangs defeated the UOIT Ridgebacks 4-3 in a shootout on Feb. 6 at Campus Ice Centre.

The Ridgebacks came out strong in the first period taking an early lead of 2-0 three minutes into the game. Mustang forward Brittany Buck (Etobicoke, Ont.) responded minutes later with an assist from Kaley Sisler (Arkona, Ont.) to make the score 2-1.

Sisler continued to contribute to the effort by scoring the tying goal in the second period. Western took the lead in the second period when Chantal Morais (Guelph, Ont.) netted one off an assist from Katie Dillon (Oshawa, Ont.) and Ellie Seedhouse (Whitby, Ont.).

At the beginning of the third period, UOIT battled back and tied the game at 3. Despite 10 attempts Western was unable to score causing the game to go into overtime.

The game went to a shoot-out after a scoreless overtime period. Morais, nor UOIT’s Jill Morillo were able to score in the first round, leaving the game tied. Meghan Hewins (Burlington, Ont.) scored to give the Mustangs a lead that was reversed by Ridgeback Rikki Palmateer’s goal. Mustang forward Tawn Rellinger (Colorado Springs, CO.) netted the game winning goal earning the Mustangs a 4-3 win over the Ridgebacks. 

Next, Western will travel to Queen's to take on the Gaels on Feb. 7 at 2:30 p.m.

Box Score
Western 4 UOIT 3

1st Period
1. UOIT, Worthington 9 (Johnstone, Morillo), 1:32.
2. UOIT, Pigeon 1 (Matthews, Gibson), 3:43.
3. Western, Buck 4 (Sisler, Hewins), 7:09.
Penalties- Gibson Uoit (body checking), 8:10.

2nd Period
4. Western, Sisler 2 (Cox, Hewins), 7:11.
5. Western, Morais 12 (Dillon, Seedhouse), 16:54.
Penalties- Repath Uwo (slashing), 4:55; McNabb Uoit (roughing), 4:55; Gibson Uoit (body checking), 10:24.

3rd Period
6. UOIT, Pigeon 2 (Matthews), 4:19.
Penalties- Carver Uwo (cross checking), 19:15.

OT Period
No Scoring.
Penalties-Morais Uwo (body checking), 4:58.

Shootout - Western 2 (Morais NG, Hewins G, Rellinger G), UOIT 1 (Morillo NG, Palmateer G, Steacy NG).

Goals 1 2 3 OT T
Western 1 2 0 0 - 4
UOIT 2 0 1 0 - 3

Shots on Goal
Western 8-15-10-4-1-38
UOIT 9-12-14-3-0-38.

Power Play- Western 0 of 2; UOIT 0 of 2.

Goalies-Western, Ulrich 7-10-1 (38 shots-35 saves). UOIT, Thompson 3-7-0 (37 shots-34 saves).