LONDON, Ontario — The Mustangs opened the home portion of the 2026/27 schedule with a 4-1 win over Carleton on Friday at Thompson Arena.
"I think the puck was bouncing a lot tonight for sure, I think one of those ones, a little unlucky, but we were able to capitalize being able to face adversity early being able to come back shows the group that we have in that locker room the culture that they've created. Nice to put 4 on the board," said Mustangs Head Coach Brittany Howard.
Western Mustangs outshot Carleton 26-15 and held the visitors scoreless over the final two periods.
"I've been here for 5 years now. We tend to win when we start with the lead, that's huge. We know we can do it now. That was a big takeaway for us. I think we have a lot of depth this year in our 8 new players; they're absolutely fantastic additions to our team. That showed tonight, I think it was a really good team win." said Captain Emma Campbell post-game.
GAME RECAP
Jenna Beaton put Carleton ahead at 1:53, but Lacey Larmand responded for the Mustangs less than a minute later off a Haylie Kirkpatrick assist to tie it 1-1. After Carleton took an interference penalty at 4:44, Western converted the power-play opportunity when Barnard scored from Janique LaBossiere and Sadie Allen. The Mustangs finished the first period ahead 2-1.
Western kept the second period scoreless while navigating special-teams situations on both sides. The period opened with the Mustangs' power play expiring after Shannon McDonald's penalty was completed, and Carleton later went on the advantage when Sadie Mulligan was called for tripping at 4:02. Western got through the stretch without allowing a goal, and Avery Krawchuk's slashing penalty at 10:50 ended Carleton's power-play opportunity. Neither team scored in the period, leaving the second period even at 0-0.
The Mustangs added separation in the third period with two goals from Sara Forwell and kept Carleton off the board. Western faced a Carleton power play after Ava Strome was called for head contact at 2:56, then broke through at 8:09 when Forwell scored off a Larmand assist to make it 3-1. Erica Buckley's boarding penalty at 11:11 put the Mustangs back on the power play, and Forwell later added an empty-net goal at 16:31. Western finished the third period with a 2-0 scoring edge and the 4-1 final.
"We have 8 new bodies this year, so the first 8 weeks it was implementing a lot of new systems for the whole group. I think the group has taken really well to it, we want to be a possession-based team. If you can have possession, the likelihood of you putting a few in behind the goalie is a little bit higher." said Howard about her teams approach this season.
WESTERN KEY STATS
Sara Forwell
----------------------
- 2 goals
Leah Barnard
----------------------
- 1 goal
- 1 game-winning goal
- 1 power-play goal
Lacey Larmand
----------------------
- 1 goal
- 1 assist
Presley Daschuk
----------------------
- 14 saves
- 1 goal allowed
NEXT GAME
The Mustangs are back on home ice tomorrow night, hosting the Ottawa Gee-Gees on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m. at Thompson Arena in London, ON. Fans can buy tickets at WesternMustangs.ca/tickets
