The Western Mustangs' women's ice hockey team will split their regular season series with the York Lions, dropping a 4-2 game against them in Toronto Saturday afternoon.
 
Since being defeated by the Mustangs in their first game of the season back in October, the York Lions have not lost a single game, maintaining a winning record that now sits at 7-1.
 
The first period opened up with some great back and forth action between the two teams. Western was given the player advantage early as the Lions took a roughing minor, and though they were able to set up offensively, the Mustangs were unable to convert. However, they maintained their offensive pressure for the rest of the period and came out on top, as co-captain April Clark took a pass from the boards in the slot, and left alone in front of the net, roofed it up high past Lions netminder Lauren Dubie's glove. It was a great start for the Mustangs, especially given that in their first matchup against York, they let in a goal just 26 seconds into the frame.
 
In the second period, York was on the hunt for a response, and they found it quick. Just 42 seconds into the frame, York forward Becky Higgs tipped a goal past Western goaltender Carmen Lasis' shoulder to even up the score. Then, barely two minutes later, York forward Kara Washer entered the Mustangs' zone unassumingly on a two-on-two, and managed to snipe one top shelf past Lasis, using a Western defender as a screen.
 
Those two goals put Western on the chase to regain some momentum in the game, and they were able to find it, blocking shots in their own zone to regain possession of the puck. Just after the midway mark, the efforts became fruitful as Western defender Olivia Kariunas sprang Jessie Sanghe on a two-on-one breakaway, and with her incredible speed, Sanghe even up the score with a short side snipe over the goalie.
 
However, York would take the lead going into the final intermission, as Taylor Davison would score on a backhand deke to put her team up by one.
 
In the final frame, York came out with an unrelenting pressure on the Mustangs, and though Western was equal in their efforts to push back, they weren't able to spend significant time in the offensive zone. Davison would go on to score her second goal of the game on a wrister that went high past Lasis' shoulder, sealing the deal for the Lions.
 
The Mustangs will look to regroup this week and prepare for their next game against the Laurier Golden Hawks, whom they have yet to play this season. The game will be played at home at Thompson Arena on Saturday, November 16 at 2:30, and tickets can be purchased at the door or online at westernmustangs.ca/tickets.