Box Score Oshawa, ON – In a race for a playoff spot, Western overcame Ontario Tech on Saturday, February 8^th at 3:30 PM with a final score of 2-0.
 
The game between Western and Ontario Tech got off to a bit of an uneventful start; the first whistle of the afternoon came almost three minutes into the first period. Eventually, the first shot was sent by Western and saved by the Ontario Tech goalie just as quickly. The Ridgebacks reciprocated soon after, but couldn't get past Western's goalie Carmen Lasis. Western's April Clarke went flying towards the Ontario Tech goal to make her shot, but it was saved once again. After a brush between two players against the boards, the Ridgebacks caught the first penalty of the afternoon. Western's Sydnee Baker gave it a go with a shot that was just a bit wide; it bounced off the post and was recovered by Ontario Tech. The Mustangs' powerplay yielded no spectacular results as the game returned to five players per team. In a good attempt by Western's Emma Suitor, the puck smacked Ontario tech's goalie's kneepads. In the last three minutes of the first period alone, the Ridgebacks had tripled Western in attempts on goal. However, lots of time was being spent on Ontario Tech's territory and the Mustangs were working hard. The initial period of the afternoon would end with a delayed penalty to the Ridgebacks for interference.
 
Western began the second with one minute and four seconds in remaining powerplay time, a result of the penalty caught by the Ridgebacks towards the end of the first period. Just seconds in, one of Western's players hit a long shot towards the Ontario Tech net; the puck rebounded, and a corner tip was attempted, but to no avail. Western's powerplay would once again come to a close with no success as far as goals go. As of four minutes and five seconds into the second period, Western sat higher than Ontario Tech in attempted goals, but this could change quickly. After a series of fumbles around the Ridgebacks' net, multiple Western shots were made with no results. With just under thirteen minutes left, both teams were fighting hard to claim the first goal of the afternoon. Ontario Tech received their first powerplay opportunity after a Mustangs' penalty for holding the puck. Fast forward to 35 seconds left of the Ridgeback's advantage and the atmosphere was growing with anticipation as the home team circled Western's goal. With roughly eight minutes left in the second period, Western's player made their exit from the penalty box. In the moment that onlookers were dreading, Western's Kira Memet went in for the kill; she snagged her fourth goal of the season and ensured her team was first on the board with 1-0. Shortly afterwards, Ontario Tech scored, but it was called off by the referees. Asking for an explanation, the Ridgebacks' head coach didn't appear to like the referee's answer by the looks of his body language. With the score remaining at 1-0 for Western, their April Clarke made what would be one of her many attempts on the Ontario Tech goal that afternoon, but the Ridgebacks' goalie managed to catch the puck. After a hooking penalty against Western's captain Renae Nevills, a powerplay was awarded to the Ridgebacks. Shortly following, Ontario Tech would rack up a hooking penalty of their own as Western's Jenna Maclean was dumped to the ice; it was an easy call to make for the referees. The two teams entered into four-on-four play for much of the remaining time in the second period. A few more attempts were made by both teams, but nothing came of them. The score remained at 1-0 as the buzzer signaled the end of the second.
 
Ontario Tech possessed one minute and six seconds leftover powerplay time going into the third period. At this point in the game, 28 shots had been made on net by the Mustangs. Soon after Western's player exited the penalty box, their Emma Thomas assisted in a quick shot by Sophie Young that would increase the score to 2-0 for the Mustangs. The first penalty of the third period would go to April Clarke for slashing, sending Ontario Tech to another powerplay, although they hadn't been able to use them to their advantage so far this afternoon. Western's Lasis remained unstoppable as the Ridgebacks attempted another shot on her net, the 26^th Ontario Tech attempt of the game. With a hooking penalty for Western's Brooke Dicicco, it was back to the powerplay for the Ridgebacks. Seven seconds and fifty-four seconds remained as the game began to wind down. Western's goalie kicked yet another Ontario Tech attempt aside, making it look easy. Shortly afterwards, Western's Clarke appeared to be injured after being hit in the face, but recovered quickly as the puck got loose in the Mustangs' end; no penalty was called. A pile of players formed on the ice in front of Western's goal. In the confusion, it would have been easy for the Ridgebacks to sneak a goal in, but again Western's Lasis was too observant for the home team. After a tiring third period, the buzzer went off, signaling Western's 2-0 victory against Ontario Tech and a step towards their hopeful ascent to a playoff position.

Having finished their last road game of the regular season, the Western women will return to London to face-off against the University of Toronto on Friday, February 14^th at 7:00 PM. You can cheer the Mustangs on at Thompson Arena or catch the game's live stream here.