Box Score LONDON, Ont. – Following a regular season that saw them finish in fourth place in the OUA the Western Mustangs women’s hockey kicked off their playoff schedule Wednesday night against Toronto Varsity Blues. In a repeat of their OUA Quarter-final series from last year, the Mustangs took game one of the best of three series, picking up a 2-0 victory.
 
With a successful end to the season, the Mustangs came out eager to prove themselves as contenders in the playoffs. Toronto held their presence throughout the first in Western’s end, however the Mustangs’ Brittany Clapham would be the first to score, assisted by Kryshanda Green, giving Western the advantage midway through the first period. Clapham scored her first career goal during the last game of Western’s season and made her second goal just as unique by being Western’s first playoff goal. The Varsity Blues continued to make their presence felt, but Western goaltender Kelly Campbell would ensure that scored remained at 1-0 at the end of the frame.
           
The Varsity Blues came out strong at the beginning of the second with chances that almost tied the game, including one that was stopped as Campbell made an astonishing glove save as the puck was inches from crossing the goal line. Penalties became Toronto’s main issue in the second with Western having multiple power play opportunities, although Western would fail to capitalize on their power play chances, stopped by Toronto’s aggressive short-handed unit. With both teams unable to score during the period, Western would keep the 1-0 lead into the second intermission.
           
Toronto continued their dominant presence in the Western zone at the beginning of the third. With the shots piling up on Western’s netminder things began to look bleak, however Clapham scored her second goal of the game, assisted by Marlowe Pecora, just under seven minutes into the period to extend the Mustangs lead. With a 2-0 lead over the Varsity Blues, the Mustangs only had to hold out against the Toronto offensive attack and Campbell held strong against the Toronto shooters, keeping them shutout for the remainder of the game.
           
Western now travels to Toronto Friday to continue their quarter-final playoffs on Friday. Game three, if necessary, is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. at Thompson Arena.