NORTH BAY, Ont. – A second period goal from Jade Gauthier ended up as the game winner as the Nipissing Lakers defeated the Western Mustangs 1-0 on Friday evening at the North Bay Memorial Gardens.
 
The result moves Western to 3-3-0-0 on the year, while Nipissing improves to 4-2-0-2.
 
Kelly Campbell stopped 21 of 22 shots in the loss, while Nipissing's Jacqueline Rochefort turned aside all 23 shots she faced.
 
The first period was a back and forth affair, and featured a power play for each team, though neither was able to capitalize. Nipissing held a slight edge on the scoresheet, outshooting Western 11-7 in the frame.
 
Gauthier's game-winning goal came at 9:19 of the second period. Stacey Hawethorne assisted on the goal and was one of eight shots the Lakers had in the second period.
 
Although Nipissing opened the scoring, Western was given a great chance to even the score only 50 seconds later as Gauthier was pinned with a four-minute checking to head penalty. However, the Lakers were able to kill it off and the score remained 1-0 heading to the third.
 
The third period was a defensive affair as Nipissing committed defensively and successfully attempted to limit Western's shot attempts. The purple and white were able to get six shots to the net in the period, and held the Lakers to only three shots of their own, but none of the Mustangs shots were able to beat Rochefort, giving the Lakers a 1-0 win.
 
The CIS No. 2 Mustangs will look to get back on the winning track as they visit Laurentian tomorrow night. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:50 p.m. at the Countryside Arena.