Box Score Toronto, ON – The Western women's hockey team took to the road on Saturday, January 18^th to face off against Ryerson University in their 'Do it for Daron' game, a regular season match-up of which all of the proceeds went towards mental health support/research. In an easy-going game, the Mustangs snagged their twelfth consecutive win against the Rams; the last time Western saw a loss to Ryerson was in 2013. 
 
After several minutes of both teams going back-and-forth, Western's goalie Tareya Webster received her first opportunity for a save. Ryerson's Julie Patricio sent a straight-on wrist shot towards the net, which Webstersaved, but couldn't quite keep in her glove. After a rebound shot, the Mustangs' goalie locked down the puck for good. It was an afternoon filled with penalties, the first of which was handed to Ryerson's Teagan Gartley for tripping; this would be followed by the game's first powerplay, a good chance for Western to take advantage of the opposition. Unfortunately, the Mustangs' opportunity didn't last long as one of their own caught a hooking penalty, evening up the number of players once again. As Ryerson's Gartley returned to the ice, her team gladly accepted a powerplay swap to give them the edge. After another several minutes, Western entered into their second powerplay of the afternoon; with an advantage lasting more than 31 seconds this time around, the Mustangs had a better chance to setup and hopefully, see some goals added to the scoreboard. Sure enough, it was soon afterwards when Western's Jenna MacLean took her chance at a wrist shot on the Ryerson goalie. MacLean's shot ricocheted off the goalie's pads straight to Western's Renae Nevills, who attempted another wrist shot. Unfortunately, Ryerson's goaltender shut down that one as well. With just over two minutes left in the first period, the Rams' Gartley accepted her second tripping penalty of the afternoon, granting Western two virtually back-to-back powerplays. Western's April Clark took the opportunity to tip a sneaky one in front with the Ryerson goalie almost knocking it back into their net, but ultimately saving it. The first period came to a close shortly afterwards. While both teams sat at ten attempted shots on net, the score remained at 0-0.
 
The second period saw much of the first minute spent in Western's zone; Ryerson quickly racked up four new attempts on net. In the first penalty since the women returned to the ice, Western's captain headed to the box. Following that, a slashing penalty was called against Ryerson's Lauren Nicholson, beginning Western's fourth powerplay; the Rams would need to cool it on the rough play before it really started to cost them. As of halfway through the second period, Ryerson possessed 20 attempts on Western's goaltender, approximately double those of Western. With seven minutes left, the Mustangs' head coach Candice Moxley ordered a full-line change. There was no doubt that the pace of play during this period had been much quicker than that of the first, though still not very eventful. With less than three minutes remaining, Ryerson was sitting pretty with 27 shots on net versus Western's 11. The Mustangs may not have been taking as many chances as the Rams, but they were making them count. This was proven when Western's Clark came scooting around the Rams' net with a quick centering pass to Emma Suitor, who snuck in the home team's first goal of the afternoon. The second period wrapped up with the score resting at 1-0. 
 
Coming into the afternoon's game, Western's goalie was sitting at a .935 saving percentage, which could definitely explain why the Rams were having difficulty earning goals despite their number of shots. Early on in the third period, Western's Clark made an attempt, confident from her earlier assist, but the Ryerson goalie caught it. With almost nine minutes remaining, the Mustangs' Emma Thomas was handed a tripping penalty in what would be a great opportunity for Ryerson to tie up the score. Up to this point in the period, Western was being forced to focus mainly on defense, but they seemed to welcome this approach to the game, likely hoping to tire the Rams out before they could achieve a retaliating point. With 37 attempts made by Ryerson to Western's mere 21 and only one-minute left of the game, the Ryerson coaches signaled for a timeout. Unfortunately, their chance for a comeback had come and gone. With 35 seconds remaining, Western's Clarkscored a solo, empty-net goal to elevate the Mustangs' score to 2-0 and wrap up the game. 
 
The Western women will take a short break before returning to home ice to play Laurentian University on Friday, January 24^th at 7:00 PM. Come out to Thompson Hall to cheer the Mustangs on or watch from home.