Box Score TORONTO, Ont. — With the NHL making its return today, it seems fitting that the Mustangs women’s hockey team would take on the Ryerson Rams in the Mattamy Athletic Centre, better known as Maple Leaf Gardens, former home to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
 
But unlike the NHL stars, the Mustangs have been playing all season and looked to continue their strong play against the last place Rams. And despite a flurry of penalties, the Mustangs managed to top Ryerson 3-1 to raise their regualr season record to 15-4-1.
 
The game started slow with the majority of the first period remaining scoreless. However, with a little over three minutes left to play, Jessica Ross snapped a shot past Ryerson goaltender Dana Carson for the 1-0 lead.
 
The Mustangs carried their momentum into the second period and at 2:57 Kendra Deller took a stretch pass from Katelyn Gosling and scored on the breakaway opportunity to give the ‘Stangs the two goal advantage.
 
Then less than a minute later, with Ryerson on the powerplay, Casey Rosen was hauled down resulting in the rare shorthanded penalty shot. Unfazed, Rosen skated in toward Carson and found the mesh, giving her team the 3-0 lead.
 
Heading into the third period down by three, the Rams continued to put pressure on the Mustangs outshooting them 14-7 in the frame. A little more than halfway through the period, the Rams finally got on board after a goal from defensemen Victoria Acri beat Mustangs goalkeeper, Kelly Campbell. But that’s as close as it would get as the Mustangs hung on to the 3-1 road victory.
 
Campbell turned away 38 shots in the win.
 
The Mustangs return to the ice tomorrow when they face the first-place Laurier Golden Hawks at Thompson Arena. The puck will drop at 4:00 p.m.