Courtesy: Stephen KassimWATERLOO, Ont. – The Ryerson Rams women’s hockey team put in a solid effort against the No. 4 nationally ranked Laurier Golden Hawks on Sunday evening but came out on the losing end of a 5-2 score.
The first place Hawks (16-1-2) dominated the opening frame, using their size to their advantage and capitalizing on loose pucks in front of Ryerson’s starting goaltender Dana Carson (London, Ont.). Laurier was able to jam home three pucks in the frame to hold a 3-0 advantage after 20 minutes.
Caitlin Muirhead (Waterloo, Ont.) opened the scoring just 2:56 into the game before Jessie Hurrell (Palgrave, Ont.) shoveled one home on the power play at the 8:10 mark. Paula Lagamba (Toronto) rounded out the period’s scoring at 15:49.
Ryerson came out with more jump in their step in the second period and were able to apply and sustain pressure in the offensive zone. Team captain Nella Brodett (Edmonton, Alta.) got the Rams on the board at 3:11 when she pounced on a rebound in the slot.
Brodett’s goal was a power play marker, the second in as many games for the Rams who had struggled throughout the first half of the season with the man advantage.
The Rams continued to maintain puck possession and forced Laurier into taking a timeout to regroup. The stoppage worked fully to the Hawks advantage and, on the ensuing face off, Laura Brooker (Fergus, Ont.) wristed her 13th goal of the season past Carson to regain the three goal lead.
The teams traded goals in the third period, with Ryerson’s Monique Cornett (Potsdam, NY) notching her third of the season at the 11:37 mark. Laurier’s Andrea Shapero (Toronto) rounded out the scoring just over a minute later with her first of the year.
Despite the five goals against, Dana Carson played a strong game in net for the Rams, stopping 37 of 42 shots faced which included several highlight reel saves. Hawks goalie Erika Thunder (Buffalo Point, Man.) stopped 20 of the 22 shots she faced.
The loss drops the Rams to 2-15-1 on the year. Ryerson will return to the ice on Saturday, January 19 when they host the Western Mustangs on Mattamy Home Ice at 2:00 p.m.
