LONDON, Ont. – Two-second period goals by Queen's were too much for the Western Mustangs women's hockey team to overcome as they were defeated by the Gaels 2-0 on Friday night.
 
The loss moves the Mustangs into third place in the OUA, with the Gaels taking sole possession of second and sit one point back of the league leading Guelph Gryphons.
 
Forward Courtenay Jacklin provided all the offence for the visitors, scoring at 13:37 and then again at 19:09 of the second period. Goaltender Caitlyn Lahonen made 23 saves for the shutout to lead Queen's to its ninth win on the season. Kelly Campbell stopped 39 shots for the Mustangs in the loss.
 
The Gaels win avenged a 4-1 loss suffered at the hands of the Mustangs just six days earlier in Kingston. In securing the 2-0 victory Queen's played a near perfect road game as the Gaels were furious in their effort to keep the puck by forechecking, blocking shots, and intercepting passes in the neutral zone. Western head coach David Barrett believed his group was beaten in terms of effort.
 
"I thought we got completely out worked today," he said "Full value to Queens for their effort but we were completely outworked."
 
Defenceman Emma Pearson agreed with her coach's sentiment.
 
"I thought we could have had a better effort," said the third-year defender. "I think we can go and build on that for next game and learn from out mistakes".
 
The first period started as a back and forth affair. Both teams settled into their defence, but Queen's seemed to gain the edge in puck possession in the second half. Campbell made 12 saves in the first frame and kept the score tied at zeros.
 
In the second period, the Gaels pushed the pace of play. They cut off a lot of the Western breakout passes and hemmed them in for large portions of the period. Western was able to turn a pair of Gael defensive pinches into two on ones, but neither could be converted.
 
The Gaels opened the scoring with 13:37 gone in the frame. An offensive blue line turnover turned into a rush by Jacklin. Jacklin took the puck wide, stick handled to her forehand, and snapped a shot past Campbell.
 
The Gaels extended their lead on the power play six minutes later. Campbell kicked out an Alisha Sealey point shot, but Jacklin was Johnny on the spot to pop home a backhander and her second of the game. Queen's would take that 2-0 lead into the third period.
 
The Mustangs had an extended power play in the final frame but were unable to capitalize. Lahonen stopped eight Western shots in the period and sealed the victory for the Mustangs.
 
Barrett was unimpressed by the quickness his team show throughout the game, mentioning that they had been much faster in their previous victory against the Gaels.
 
"We rely on our speed," said Barrett, "When we're not skating or moving the puck quickly we are average."
 
Barrett will be looking to his team's response against the CIS No. 1 Guelph Gryphons as they visit Thompson Arena on Saturday night.
 
"I think it will be a great test for our team and the leadership on our team to see what they're going to do"
 
Puck drop for Saturday's game is schedule for 7 p.m. and all the action can be watched live on OUA.tv