LONDON, Ont. - In a close, hard-hitting contest the Mustangs fell 3-0 to the UOIT Ridgebacks at Thompson Arena on Feb. 5.

Kyle Wetering scored for the Ridgebacks while Nathan Spaling and Josh Vatri added empty net goals to secure the victory.

The first period remained scoreless despite several opportunities from both teams. Mustangs goaltender Josh Unice stopped Ridgebacks attacker Kevin George on a breakaway attempt at 8:39. Unice also made two key saves in the dying seconds of the frame to hold UOIT off and remain tied after 20 minutes.

Tempers flared as both clubs searched for the first goal of the evening. Western and UOIT met last weekend and the Mustangs claimed a 7-3 victory, adding five goals in the second period. Western outshot the Ridgebacks 15-12 in the second frame of tonight’s contest, but could not secure a goal.

Mustangs Chris Rocca had a goal called off at 3:24 as Ridgebacks goaltender Jason Guy was pushed into the net. Guy held the goal-line for UOIT and robbed Western of countless offensive opportunities.

UOIT notched the first goal at 5:56 of the third period as Kyle Wetering beat the Mustangs defender on the left wing boards and walked down low, beating Unice with a hard shot on the ice on the far side.

Unice was solid in net for the whole 60 minutes including a sprawling pad save to hold his team in the game. Western outshot the UOIT Ridgebacks 43-39.

With less than two minutes remaining, Unice headed to the bench as Western’s extra-attacker jumped on the ice, looking for a tying goal. Spaling gained possession of the puck and fired a shot into the empty net for a 2-0 lead.

With time still left on the clock, Unice skated to the bench one more time, but the Mustangs could not find an opening as Vatri lobbed another goal into the unprotected net for a 3-0 final.

With two games left in regular season, Western (20-2-4) holds first place position in the OUA West Division with 44 points. Laurier (14-7-5) is currently ranked second with 33 points while Lakehead (15-9-2) sits in third with 32. Among 19 teams in both OUA divisions, Western is second in goals for with 114 and second in goals against with 65.

Western will travel to Brock University on Feb. 11 for a 7:30 p.m. game.