Box Score Thunder Bay, Ont. – Western opened their weekend set Friday night against Lakehead University. The game served as the first contest of the season between The Mustangs and the Thunderwolves. Western was looking to bounce back after suffering defeats in each of their last two games after victories in their first two post-winter break games.

This game was the Mustangs' first of a three-game road trip that will see them take on Lakehead University Saturday night and then head to Toronto on Wednesday for a game with the University of Toronto. Road trips can be dangerous, but this Western team appears comfortable away from home. The team has posted a 5-5 record in away games.

David Ovsjannikov got the start in net for the Mustangs and proved to be sterling in the early goings of the game. Ovsjannikov and the Lakehead net-minder traded impressive saves five minutes into the first period to keep the game tied.

The Thunderwolves struck first minutes later when a soft shot from the point ricocheted into the net on a fluky goal. The goal was a tough break and showed that anything can happen when you put pucks on net.

Lakehead University got another goal with 6:10 remaining in the first when sustained zonetime resulted in an easy one-timer goal from the backdoor. The goal was preceded by the Thunderwolves continuously setting up in their offensive zone and they were finally rewarded for their efforts.

The Mustangs would answer with sustained offensive pressure of their own. Despite playing better they were unable to convert on any chances. The first period would end with the Mustangs trailing 2-0 while shots were virtually even at 16-15 in favour of the Thunderwolves.

Lakehead would then extend their lead to three goals early in the second period. The game stayed relatively stagnant from there before Western earned the first power-play of the contest 12 minutes into the second period.

The first opportunity proved unsuccessful, but the Mustangs would gain another extra-man opportunity moments later. This one did result in a goal for Western as they cut the lead back to two.

Lakehead then got a powerplay opportunity of their own after a scramble in front of the Western net. The chance backfired as the Mustangs cut the lead to one goal with a shorthanded goal scored by Kolten Olynek.

The second period would end from there as the Mustangs were able to claw their way back into the game.

The Mustangs wasted no time tying the game as Kyle Petit put the put through the goaltender's legs on a breakaway early in the third.

Western then took the game over, gaining the lions' share of scoring chances over the next several minutes. The pressure would result in a go-ahead-goal from Anthony Stefano.

Stefano's marker would stand as the game-winning goal with Ovsjannikov and the Mustang defence holding strong the rest of the game. The win pushed Ovsjannikov's record to an impressive 4-1-0 this season. The Mustangs will look for a similar result tomorrow night as they take on the Thunderwolves once again.