Saturday proved to be just what the doctor ordered for the Nipissing Lakers women's hockey team.
The Lakers snapped out of their mini-slump, their offence got back on track and most importantly, they got back to their winning ways on home ice.
All that was thanks to a 5-0 shutout win over the visiting Windsor Lancers.
Five different goal scorers found the back of the net and Danika Ranger was perfect in goal, stopping all 20 shots as Nipissing snapped their four game losing streak.
Nipissing did all their damage in the first two periods, scoring twice in the first and adding three in the second.
Sam Strassburger got things started with a shorthanded goal less than a minute into the game.
The goal set the tone for the next 59 minutes.
Kaitlyn McManus made it 2-0 later in the first period, scoring for the second straight game. Dana Beattie picked up the lone assist on the goal.
Up 2-0 after 2- minutes, Nipissing poured it on in the middle frame.
Jetta Derenoski made it 3-0 and basically put the game out of reach with a tally less than five minutes into the period.
Less than three minutes later, Keara Amson fired home the team's fourth goal as she one-timed the puck into the back of the net.
Maria Dominico picked up the assist after she fired the puck wide and it bounced in front on to Amson's stick.
The Lakers would add one more to cap off the vicotry as Brianna Gaffney showed great patience, taking a pass from the corner and out-waiting the Lancers goalie to tuck it into the back of the net.
From there, Nipissing clamped down and Ranger did the rest, earning the win and shutout.
The Lakers are back in action next weekend when they travel to Brock to face the Badgers Saturday night,
Big win for Lakers men
Friday night they deserved a better fate and Saturday night they got what they deserved.
The Nipissing Lakers had to settle for a split this weekend, but a huge effort in the second game of the weekend gave them a hard-fought victory over the visiting UQTR Patriotes.
Great goaltending and some timely goals gave the Lakers a 4-2 win.
The Lakers provided all the offence through the first 40 minutes of the game, scoring a goal in each period and Brent Moran handled the rest to put Nipissing up 2-0 after two periods of play.
Gale Lubwele got the home team on the board with a power play marker midway through the first period, set up by Colby Tower and Drake Lindsay.
Lucas Clark would tally in the second period – his first of two on the night – also on the power play, with Matt Paul and Kylor Wall earning the helpers.
Things opened up in the third with a total of four goals – two for each team.
UQTR got on the board with a lucky bounce just past the midway point of the final frame.
The Lakers answered back late in the game as Clark scored again and again with the man advantage.
Colin Campbell made a nice pass across the crease and Clark tapped it in.
Paul picked up the other assist, his second of the game.
The Patriotes drew within one again scoring with 56 seconds left as they pulled their goalie.
Nipissing held on and Deverick Ottereyes sealed the win with an empty-net goal with seven seconds remaining in the game.
Lucas Brown and Brett Jeffries did strong work in their own end to chip the puck up and ahead.
Moran was great in net, finishing with 36 saves for the victory.
The Lakers remain on home ice and host Queens and RMC next weekend.
In Volleyball action, the Nipissing Lakers women;s volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision to Guelph this afternoon on the road. Leading the way offensively for Nipissing was Shayla Kessler with 8 points, while Shannon Lebreux and Olivia Robinson each had 7. NU faces Waterloo Sunday at Noon.
The Nipissing Lakers men's volleyball team lost a tough, grueling 5-set match today to Guelph on the road. Steve Wood led the way with 19 points, Jeremie Murray had 15 and Liam Ludlow added 12 in the match. Nipissing faces Waterloo Sunday at 2pm.
In hoops, the Nipissing Lakers women's basketball team lost a tight game tonight, 78-69 to York. A great effort fell just short. Jamie Soffer led the way with 18 points and 7 rebounds, Angeline Campbell had 15 points and Michaela Branker added 14. Nipissing is back home to face Laurentian Friday night.
The Nipissing Lakers men's basketball team dropped a 77-57 decision to the York Lions tonight on the road. Will Tran led the way with 16 points while Marvin Ngonadi had 10. Nipissing returns home to face Laurentian Friday night.
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