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Mustangs end calendar year on losing note

December 1, 2011
By Roxanne Van Gemert

The Western women’s hockey team won 7-2 on Saturday night at home against the Ryerson Rams and looked to carry this momentum into the game Sunday afternoon at the Thompson Arena against the Toronto Varsity Blues. With the Varsity Blues currently ranked sixth in Ontario University Athletics standings, the Mustangs were in for a tough match as they were ninth in the standings.

“Every team is so good in this league, that every game is going to be close, and we need to remain consistent,” Vicky Sunohara, Varsity Blues head coach, said.

Just 15 seconds into the game, the Mustangs were able to put one up on the board as defenceman Kendra Deller notched her fourth goal of the season.

“Such an early goal gets us started on a good path for the rest of the game. We were in their end for most of the first period, but then settled down and lost momentum as the game progressed,” Deller said.

The Mustangs continued to maintain possession of the puck, until the Varsity Blues fore check made way for an opportunity. Jacqueline Scheffel of the Varsity Blues was able to get Toronto on the board as she scored at the 10:43 mark of the first period to net her first goal of the season.

The second period opened up with even play from both teams. At 11:26, Varsity Blues forward Ragan Danford took a penalty for slashing, putting the Mustangs on a power play. The Varsity Blues were unable to clear the puck during the penalty kill, resulting in a Lindsay Gidomski goal to put them up 2-1.

With just six minutes remaining in the second period, Mustang Madison Turk took a penalty, which led to Amanda Fawns of the Varsity Blues scoring her fourth of the season. Just over a minute later, Toronto’s Ragan Danford scored off the crossbar at even strength to make it 3-2 for the Varsity Blues at the end of the second.

The Varsity Blues opened up strong in the final period. At 17:26, Danford scored her second goal of the game to give her team a two-goal lead. With 3:07 left in the third period, Toronto goalie Nicole Kesteris took an interference penalty, which resulted in the Mustangs pulling their goalie for the extra advantage. Katie Dillon managed to score her ninth goal of the season with just 37 seconds remaining.

The clock ran out before the Mustangs got a chance to tie up the game, resulting in a 4-3 loss against the Varsity Blues.

With this loss, the Mustangs fall to an 8-8-1 record and remain ninth in Ontario University Athletics standings. The Mustangs are off the ice until after the winter holidays, when they play at home against the Laurier Golden Hawks on January 7. With an extensive gap in their schedule, the Mustangs need to regain focus to improve their record.

“When you score early everyone thinks it is going to be an easy win. Although it is nice to get a good start, the goal after the initial one is crucial—we had so many chances, and were just unable to capitalize,” Chris Higgins, Mustangs head coach, said.

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