The Nipissing Lakers women’s hockey team, who enter the weekend coming off a pair of overtime games this past weekend, begin a four game homestand Friday night.
The Lakers welcomed the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks to Memorial Gardens for Friday’s contest and despite a slow start, came away with a come-from-behind victory.
The Lakers used three third period goals, including one in the last minute, to pick up a 4-3 win over the Ridgebacks.
The Ridgebacks struck first, finding the back of the net just a minute and half into the game.
They added to their lead just over five minutes later, doubling their advantage.
The Lakers struck back with 8:46 left in the first as Malory Dominico continued her outstanding season, burying her 12 th of the season.
Katie Chomiak and Maggie McKee earned helpers on the first Lakers tally.
Nipissing took over the game after finding the back of the net, but ended the first period down a goal.
Shots favoured Nipissing 19-6 after 20 minutes of play.
The second period began the same way the first did, with the Ridgebacks scoring early to regain their two goal advantage.
Ontario Tech’s tally was the lone goal of the middle frame as they extended their lead back to two goals, finishing the second period up 3-1.
Shots still heavily favoured the Lakers as they outshot the Ridgebacks 14-11 in the second period and held a 33-17 lead through 40 minutes.
In the third, the Lakers wasted little time to get the game back within one.
Katie Chomiak picked up her second point of the game after she hammered home a shot on the rush for Nipissing’s second goal of the game.
Allison Hayhurst and Britney Zack drew assists on the goal that came just 1:06 into the period.
Less than five minutes later, the Lakers tied the game.
Emma Thomas made no mistake on a nice play down low by Lana Duriez and Kamryn Grooms to make it 3-3 less than five minutes into the final frame.
After the Lakers tied the game, the teams traded chances, with Nipissing generating a number of quality opportunities on the power play.
With less than a minute to go, after a big penalty kill, the Lakers grabbed the win.
Captain Allison Hayhurst fired a puck home with 50 seconds remaining to give Nipissing the one goal lead as they held on and completed the comeback.
Chantelle Sandquist was between the pipes for the Lakers, finishing with 23 saves, while Nipissing had 42 shots of their own on the Ridgebacks net.
The Lakers host the Queen’s Gaels Saturday night.
Puck drop is 7 pm at The Gardens.
Nipissing remains on the road and heads to Kingston to take on the Queen's Gaels Saturday night at 7:30pm.
