LONDON, Ont. – Anthea Lasis scored two goals and Stacey Scott netted the shootout winner as the Western Mustangs fought their way to a 3-2 victory over the Guelph Gryphons on Saturday night at Thompson Arena.
 
"I thought we played well," said Mustangs head coach David Barrett. "Good effort and grit. Guelph is a good hockey team they have depth all through their line up and good goaltending."
 
"I'm very happy we got the result we got tonight."
 
The win ends the CIS No. 1 Gryphons eight-game winning streak and gives Western an 8-1-4-0 record, good for third place in the OUA standings heading into the December break. Guelph maintains their spot atop the standings, sitting only three points above Western and two higher than the second place Queen's Gaels.
 
The Mustangs were led Lasis, who scored both of Western's goals in regulation, and goaltender Kelly Campbell, who stopped 43 shots and two attempts in the shootout.
 
The first period was an even battle that featured action up and down the ice. After Guelph forward Kaitlin Lowy was whistled for body checking, the Mustang power play went to work. Kendra Broad found Lasis at the point after a good zone possession and the second year defender wristed a shot on net. The seeing-eye shot hit the post, and then ricocheted off the back of goaltender Valerie Lamenta and into the net. The Mustangs carried that 1-0 lead into the second period.
 
The second period was a scoreless affair, but the Mustangs carried the pace of the play. Western doubled the Gryphons shot total in the second stanza, 12-6.
 
"I thought our team came out and played strong," said Campbell "First and second period they didn't have a lot of chances, and our defence covered up."
 
The Gryphons found a way past Campbell early in the third. They tied the game with a power play goal of their own 2:33 into the final period. Guelph's leading scorer Averi Nooren controlled the puck, walked across the slot and roofed a shot over a Campbell.
 
Lasis' second power play goal seven minutes later gave the Mustangs the lead. The Mustang power play, which has struggled at times this season, really gelled against the Gryhpons. Scott and Lyndsay Kirkham picked up the helpers on the goal.
 
"I'm always pleased when the power play capitalizes," said Barrett. "Anthea got a couple quick wristers in from the blue line just released quickly and got in on net with traffic." 
 
Following the 2-1 goal, the Gryphon stepped up the tempo, firing 15 shots at Campbell in the third period. The Mustangs played desperate defensive hockey to secure the win, but the pressure from the Gryphons ultimately proved to be too much.
 
With their goalie pulled, the Gryphons found the back of the net as Christine Grant fired a shot from the slot under Campbell's arm with 26 seconds left in the period.
 
The game would go to overtime, the first time the Mustangs have participated in extra hockey this year. Five minutes of four on four solved nothing, so the teams went to three on three.
 
The three on three action gave lots of room to skate and set up several odd man rushes for both teams. Both goaltenders were forced into making outstanding saves to keep the game going, and Campbell spoke for all goaltenders when describing the new overtime format.
 
"Three-on-three was interesting. I've never done that before," said Campbell. "Not a fan."
 
"You don't have a lot of time to practice 3-on-3's" said Barrett. "You can kind of provide some structure's and hope their instincts help them out."
 
A flurry of chances for both sides and some miraculous saves by Campbell and Lamenta forced the game to a deciding shootout.
 
Western scored on their second attempt, thanks to defenceman Katelyn Gosling, who put the puck home to give the Mustangs the lead. Campbell stopped both shooters she faced and Scott sealed the victory with a five-hole shot to beat Lamenta.
 
Campbell was stellar for the Mustangs all game but particularly in overtime, stopping several 2-on-1's and then the two breakaways in the shootout.
 
"She stoned them tonight," said Barrett of his All-Canadian goalie, "Especially in the overtime I think they got the better of us for a little bit."
 
With the Mustangs now done their games for the first half schedule, they'll now have some time off to rest up for the always intense second half.
 
"I think we have a good idea of where we stand and what we have to work on," said Barrett regarding where his team is heading into the break. "I think winning the last game going into Christmas is always a good thing."