Box Score LONDON, Ont. – Western's women's hockey team took to Thompson Arena Sunday evening for a contest against the No.3 nationally-ranked Queen's Gaels. The Gaels, looking for a win after a 6-3 loss to the Lancers Saturday, went home with the win after beating the Mustangs 2-1 in a shootout.
 
"I thought we played an extremely good game today," said Mustangs head coach Chris Higgins. "[Queen's is] No. 1 in the OUA and third in the country. We took it to them in the third period, but in the end it was a shootout, and their goalie beat our goalie in the shootout."
 
While Queen's dominated offensively in the first frame, defense on both teams had to work overtime. Western netminder Kelly Campbell had an outstanding opening period stopping all 11 shots coming her way and even made a spectacular dive across the crease to stop a puck as Western was on the penalty kill. Despite the Mustangs' two powerplay advantages, the Gaels' ability to clear the puck did not go unnoticed, and after 20 minutes, both teams remained scoreless.
 
As both Western and Queen's fought to put their team on the scoreboard, neither team was willing to give up a goal. The Gaels received a golden opportunity late in the period after a tripping call on Sydney Kidd resulted in a penalty shot for the visiting squad. Campbell turned away the ensuing shot, keeping the game tied heading into the third period.
 
After two scoreless periods, goals came quickly in the third as not thirty seconds into the frame Queen's forward Jessica Wakefield put the Gaels up 1-0. Seven minutes later, Cassidy Gosling fired a rebound past Queen's goalkeeper Mel Dodd-Moher to tie things up at 1-1. The Mustangs continued to pressure the Gaels defense as the clock wound down, however things remained even at 1-1, sending the game to overtime.
 
Five minutes of overtime did not provide a solution for either team as each netminder continued to turn aside shot after shot, meaning it would all come down to the shootout.
 
Western's Michelle Saunders took to the ice first, however she was stopped by Dodd-Moher. Next up, Campbell faced Queen's forward Taryn Pilon who somehow found a way to get passed Campbell and put the Gaels up 2-1. Ally Galloway and Stacey Scott were the next two shooters for the Mustangs but neither was able to produce another tying goal. Queen's came out on top 2-1.
 
In total, Campbell faced 43 shots, stopping all but one. Dodd-Moher turned aside 31 shots for the Gaels.
 
When asked what areas the team will work to improve on over the next week, Higgins responded, "We just need to score some goals. We're getting shots, but we're not scoring. That's all that is missing. I was very happy with all aspects of our game there. Our penalty kill was exceptional."
 
The Mustangs return to the ice on Friday, November 22, for a match-up against the Guelph Gryphons at Thompson Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. and fans from around the world can watch live on Mustangs TV.