LONDON, ON - Western battled UOIT for an overtime 3-2 victory in an aggressive battle fought on home ice.
Mustang goals were scored by Lindsay Repath (Thornhill, Ont.) and Ellie Seedhouse (Whitby, Ont.), who scored two goals including the winning goal in overtime. Jaclyn Gibson (Cobourg, Ont.) and Sarah Worthington (Whitby, Ont.) put the points on the board for the Ridgebacks.
The Mustangs opened the game strong with Seedhouse scoring a quick goal against UOIT with 13 seconds in the first period, assisted by a clean pass from Michelle Saunders (Oakville, Ont.).
Western continued to apply the pressure to the Ridgebacks, resulting in Repath scoring an unassisted goal shortly thereafter. The period progressed with many quick plays and equal shooting attempts from both teams eventually resulting in Western keeping a 2-0 lead at the end of the first period.
The momentum carried into the second period as Western's goalie, Olivia Ross (Huntsville, Ont.), stayed strong in net against Gillian Beggs' (Oshawa, Ont.) breakaway attempt from the Ridgebacks. Another unassisted goal was scored half-way through the second period from Worthington, who later received a penalty for interference at 12:48. Despite their quick passes, Western was unable to score on the powerplay and regain a lead, ending the second period with a 2-2 tie.
The third period opened with a carried-over power play for the Mustangs.
UOIT brought some aggression to the ice, earning them two back-to-back penalties. Even with the advantage, Western could not add points on the scoreboard.
Tempers flared as Western's Tara Cation (Caledon, Ont.) and Katie Dillon (Oshawa, Ont.), along with UOIT's Rikki Palmateer (Cobourg, Ont.), were all handed penalties at 13:24 on the clock. Both teams followed through the third period with combative gameplay, leaving them at 2-2 going into overtime.
Overtime began with a make-or-break opportunity as UOIT's Jordan Whately (Cobourg, Ont.) was sent to the penalty box in the first 17 seconds of gameplay for body checking. The Mustangs exploited this advantage with Cation and Saunders setting up the puck for Seedhouse, who shot the puck past the Ridgebacks goalie for the game-winning point at 45 seconds in OT. This marks Seedhouse's 10th goal of the season.
The Mustangs look to follow up with another win on Sunday Jan. 23 against Queen's at 2 p.m. in Thompson Arena.
