Box Score OSHAWA, Ont. – It was almost a comeback story but the Mustangs were unable to return from a three-goal defecit as they fell 4-3 to the UOIT Ridgebacks in OUA women's hockey action on Saturday afternoon at Canlan ICE Sports arena.
 
The Mustangs could not seem to recover after giving up three straight goals despite scoring twice on the power play in the third period. The Western squad started the game strong, playing a high tempo first period despite heading to the penalty box four times.  The game remained scoreless at the end of the first period.
 
The Mustangs came out flying again in the second period as Marlowe Pecora opened the scoring with the assist coming from her line mate Megan Taylor, but UOIT came back with a vengeance to dominate possession of the puck for the rest of the second period as the Ridgebacks directed 21 shots at Western net-minder Olivia Ross.  The UOIT squad, led by captain Jill Morillo, scored twice in the second period to take a 2-1 lead.  
 
In the third period the Ridgebacks' advantage increased just a minute into play as UOIT's Jaclyn Gibson netted her second goal of the contest. The Mustangs turned to their red-hot power play to stay in the game with plenty of time left in the third as assistant captain Katelyn Gosling scored on a pass from Brianna Iazzolino to keep the Ridgebacks in sight with a one-goal advantage. UOIT would continue to hold firm, however, outshooting the Mustangs by a margin of 37-28 and adding another third period marker that would prove to be the game winner. Gosling (3-5-8) would add an assist on the team's third goal, scored by blue liner Tara Cation, but it was not enough as they Ridgebacks came away with the win. 
 
The loss marks the end of Western's four-game win streak and gives them an 11-8 record on the season.  The Mustangs will now return home to begin a five-game home stand to finish off the regular season as they prepare to host the Windsor Lancers on Saturday, January 25 at Thompson Arena.