After a perfect weekend on the road, the Nipissing Lakers women's hockey team suffered a setback in their home opener.
The Lakers fell 5-2 Friday evening to the visiting Ryerson Rams, who led from the get-go and sealed the game in the third period with three goals, including two into the empty-net.
The Rams scored the lone goal of the first period early on and led after 20 minutes.
The Lakers tied the game in the second when Jade Gauthier finished off a pretty passing play and made no mistake, taking the puck from backhand to forehand before shovelling it home.
Sam Strassburger and Brianna Gaffney picked up assists on the goal.
Ryerson regained the lead about five minutes later, but once again, the Lakers answered.
Down 2-1, Maria Dominico had three cracks from point-blank and finally tucked the puck into the back of the net to make it 2-2.
Strassburger picked up another helper, along with Gauthier, as both players finished with a pair of points in the loss.
After 40, with the score tied 2-2, the third period would decide the game and it was Ryerson who stepped up.
The Rams scored three times in the final 20 minutes, including two after the Lakers had pulled their goalie.
Ryerson outshot Nipissing 11-1 in the final frame and 24-15 overall.
Danika Ranger is tagged with the loss, finishing with 19 saves.
Up next, Nipissing will try to rebound when they host Toronto Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Memorial Gardens.
In the final two games of their four game homestand to kickoff the season, the Nipissing Lakers men's hockey team welcomed the Toronto Varsity Blues to Memorial Gardens Friday, followed up the Western Mustangs Saturday.
To begin the weekend, the Blues came to town hungry for a win and two points.
A tough opening period sunk the Lakers, who dropped the decision 4-3 despite a late push.
The Lakers got off to a slow start, trailing less than a minute into the first period and to the Blues credit, they pushed the pace of the game and added two more before the period was out.
Toronto held a 3-0 advantage after 20 minutes and were overall in control.
In the second, the pace evened out and the game picked up, but little in the way of offensive chances showed up for the majority of the middle frame.
Nipissing battled back and looked much better, but didn't find the back of the net until the second half of the middle frame.
Two quick goals, however, pulled Nipissing back into the contest as Colin Campbell and Dan Desrochers both went upstairs with shots to cut their team's deficit to just one goal.
Erik Robichaud assisted on Campbell's goal, while Deverick Ottereyes picked up the helper on Desrochers tally.
Toronto replied quickly after Nipissing's second goal, restoring their two goal lead.
It was a much better period all around, but Nipissing still trailed by a pair after 40 minutes.
Down by a pair in the third period, the Lakers found a way back into the game when Campbell scored his second of the night, set up by Kylor Wall and Robichaud.
Both teams pushed late in the period - Nipissing to tie things up and Toronto to put the game away - and it Toronto who hung on for the win.
Final shots read 34-22 in favour of the Blues, who escape with the win.
Domenic Graham finished with 30 saves in the loss.
Next up, Nipissing hosts Western Saturday night at 7:30pm.
