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Mustangs win first of the season

October 26, 2009
By James Hall

The Western women’s hockey team can breathe a sigh of relief — their losing streak is over.

Winless through their first five games, the Mustangs were finally able to turn things around on Sunday, defeating the York Lions 3-2 to earn their first win of the 2009 season.

“It was a long time coming. We’re a really good team and it’s frustrating when we’re not winning. We wanted to prove to everybody that we’re actually here to contend,” Western goaltender Jessica Ulrich said.

Despite playing on zero days rest, with several players being scratched from the lineup, Western coach Paul Cook was optimistic heading into the game.

“We’re playing today a little shorthanded, but that’s not always a bad thing. We had a strong third period against U of T on Saturday so hopefully we can carry that momentum forward,” he said.

The Mustangs were able to do just that, scoring within the first four minutes of the game courtesy of a beautiful passing play between Kailey Hooker and forward Chantal Morais, who potted her first of two on the day.

“It was huge to get on the board early,” Cook stressed after the game. “All year we’ve been struggling to come from behind. Getting that first goal really provided the team with a heightened level of confidence.”

The Mustang offence continued to click, scoring two power play goals early in the second period, including Morais’ second of the game.

“Their box collapsed. Ellie [Seedhouse] was able to hit me with a great pass and I buried it,” Morais said.

York was able to make the game 3-2 late in the second, on a Kelsey Webster knuckle puck from the point that fooled Ulrich, but the Mustangs hung on in the third period for the victory.

With 16 minor penalties in the game, special teams proved to be the deciding factor. Western was able to score on two of nine power play opportunities, while York’s power play was powerless, shut down on all seven occasions.

“Western out-executed us on the power play,” York coach Daniel Church said. “Their power play was the difference maker in the game.”

Cook attributed much of his team’s success on the power play to generating scoring chances.

“Our power play was disciplined and able to execute. We created lots of scoring opportunities, not just shots, but scoring opportunities,” Cook said.

He also commended Ulrich’s efforts. The goaltender stopped 44 shots and allowed only two goals over the course of the game.

“She was outstanding. I was talking to her yesterday about the difference a big save can make, and how it can really fire up a team,” Cook said.

York coach Church was ultimately disappointed with his team’s performance.

“We weren’t as hungry as they were and if you don’t come to work as hard as the other team, you won’t win in this league,” Church said.

Although it was all smiles after the game, Western played almost the entire third period without forward Aoife Cox who was hit awkwardly behind her own goal and did not return to the game.

She is questionable for Friday’s tilt against a struggling University of Ontario Institute of Technology squad.

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