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Western splits tough games on the road

November 22, 2011
By Jason Sinukoff

This past weekend, the Mustangs women’s hockey team hit the road and took on the Waterloo Warriors on Saturday and the York Lions on Sunday. The Mustangs split the two games, as they beat down Waterloo 4-1 and lost 2-1 to the Lions.

Since both teams are hovering around the same place as the Mustangs in the standings, Chris Higgins, the head coach of the women’s squad, knew both games would be tough.

“We knew both games would be a dog fight. We’re basically tied with both of them for a playoff spot and we knew they were going to be battles,” Higgins explained.

Everything went Westerns’ way on Saturday, as the Mustangs were scoring early and often against the Warriors. The Mustangs got off to a quick 2-0 lead and never looked back.

“We got off to a quick start against Waterloo with two early goals and then we just played well down the stretch,” Higgins said.

Getting off to an early start with the first goal of the game against Waterloo was crucial for the Mustangs, as they boast some of the best goaltending in Ontario University Athletics.

“It was huge. During the first 10 minutes of the game we were kind of back on our heels and the second she scored that goal, the kids just took off,” Higgins said. “I thought we controlled the game from then on.”

Katie Dillon netted two goals in the Mustangs’ big win.

On Sunday the Mustangs faced a tougher test in the Lions.

The Lions boast a great defensive corps, so the purple and white had to find a way to overcome that in order to win.

“York has very good defencemen. So against York, we played our wingers a lot higher to take away the point shots,” Higgins said.

Something most teams aren’t used to is playing on the Olympic-sized ice of the York Lions’ arena.

“I think with a lot of teams, if you’re not used to playing on Olympic ice, then you often only play on half the ice,” Dan Church, Lions head coach, said. “I think in their defensive part of the game, they didn’t defend very well, but I thought they utilized it very well offensively—using the width of the ice.”

Stacey Scott scored the lone goal for the Mustangs, but unfortunately a fluke goal from the Lions tied the game. Later, in the third period, Chloe Milano of the Lions scored the game-winning goal.

“They tied it on an absolute fluke goal—they shot it, it hit a stick and basically went up over top of our goalie and into the net. And then they got a nice goal in the third period, but before they got that goal, we had two clear-cut breakaways and didn’t capitalize,” Higgins said.

The Mustangs will once again play two games this weekend when they host the Ryerson Rams and the Toronto Varsity Blues this weekend on Saturday and Sunday respectively at Thompson Arena.

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