Box Score LONDON, Ont. – The Mustangs scored three unanswered goals in the second period en route to a 4-1 victory over the Ryerson Rams as Kelly Campbell stood tall in net, stopping 30 of 31 shots to secure the win.
 
With three games this weekend against very different opponents, head coach Chris Higgins knew that Ryerson would be tough competition despite sitting in last place in the OUA. 
 
"They took the lead [and] could have gone up 2-0," Higgins said postgame, "[but] our kids responded real well in the second period scoring three goals in about 5-6 minutes."
 
The Mustangs were rearing to go in the opening period, controlling the puck and flying around the ice in end-to-end action.  Western moved the puck well but couldn't seem to find the back of the net, finding themselves unable to set up down low on their lone power play of the period. 
 
Ryerson goaltender Alex Armstrong, who shutout the Mustangs in their last meeting in November, stood tall on Friday, stopping all 21 shots the purple and white fired at her including two tremendous saves on break away opportunities—the second coming with just seconds to go in the opening frame. 
 
Both teams came out flying to start the second looking to improve upon their play in the scoreless first period.  The first goal came only two minutes in as Ryerson took advantage of an injury to Western's Stacey Scott at the other end of the ice to open the scoring. Scott fell hard to the ice after racing for the puck just inside Ryerson's blueline, sliding all the way to the goal line and remaining down on the ice for almost a full 30 seconds.
 
Unfortunately for Scott and Western, the play continued and turned the other way, allowing Ryerson caption Janella Brodett to hack a rebound past Campbell. Once reaching the bench, Scott immediately headed for the dressing room and did not return to the game.  The third-year forward currently leads the team in scoring with seven goals and 10 assists for 17 points.
 
That goal appeared to motivate the Mustangs to elevate their game. Only minutes after Scott left, Ryerson's Cassie Sharp headed back to the penalty box allowing Brittany Clapham to put Western on the board with a power play goal. The marker was quickly followed up by a Marlowe Pecora tally at even strength, with defenceman Brianna Iazzolino assisting on both goals. 
 
The Mustangs continued to look nearly unstoppable in the frame, as Carly Rolph potted another only seconds later, although the goal was quickly called back due to the play being offside.  She would eventually convert again in the period, however, and this time it would count, as she scored with 4:50 on the clock to put Western ahead 3-1.  That goal came with assists from Clapham and Iazzolino, who both had multi point games on Friday.
 
The Mustangs did well to tighten it up defensively from there on out, making the Rams work for any offensive chances they could muster while Campbell remained focused in net after allowing the first goal, going on to stop 30 of 31 shots. Campbell's strong effort certainly did not go unnoticed by her coach after the game.
 
"She made some saves in that third period that I thought were going in […] and with Olivia Ross out now we need Kelly as long as she can go," Higgins said of Campbell.
 
In the final period, Sydney Kidd, who was just recently switched from playing defence to the forward position, added an insurance marker midway through the frame, going to the net and slapping a loose puck past the Rams netminder. Her recent success following the switch has Coach Higgins feeling rather sheepish for not making the adjustment earlier.
 
"I am one stupid coach, I should have put her in forward in first year, she'd be an all-star right now,  she's unbelievable," Higgins said. "They tackled her—should have been a penalty—and she got up, battled, and its in the net."
 
Next up is another game tomorrow night as the Mustangs host the Toronto Varsity Blues, a team which has been playing very well as of late and which also leads Western in that standings by eight points.  Coach Higgins feels confident about his squad, especially their fitness, and has reason to think so after such a high tempo performance.
 
"Our team is in great shape," he said post game, "Toronto better be ready because our kids want to win."
 
Iazzolino (3-10-13), who continued her hot streak with three assists on the night, is also feeling ready for tomorrow's big match up.
 
"If we prepare the same way we did today, I think we should be okay," Iazzolino said. "We need to come out strong because they're on a roll and we got to make sure we shut them down because they're above us in the standings so we want to try and catch them."
 
Tomorrow night's game against Toronto will take place at Thompson Arena with the puck set to drop at 4 PM.