Coming off a solid win Friday night over the Queen’s Gaels, the Nipissing Lakers women’s hockey team was looking to make it a perfect weekend at home.
In their second of three straight at home, the Lakers once again hosted the Gaels at Memorial Gardens and pulled away with a 6-3 victory in what was a 60 minute back-and-forth affair.
In the opening frame, it didn’t take long for the Lakers to hit the scoresheet.
Abby Lunney made no mistake on a breakaway to put Nipissing up a goal just over four minutes into the period.
Kara den Hoed sprung Lunney for the game’s opening goal.
It didn’t take long for the Gaels to reply, as they evened up the score with a power play mark less than two minutes after Lunney’s tally.
The goals kept coming, as Nipissing regained the lead, scoring shortly after the Gaels tied it.
Maggie McKee found the back of the net to put the Lakers ahead, with assists going to Katie Chomiak and Tessa Kosec.
Most of the excitement tailed off in the second half of the period, as the Lakers went to the intermission up a goal and led 9-8 in the shot department.
In the second period, four minutes in, the Gales tied the game, taking advantage of a 2-on-1 and a nice move.
The Lakers went back on to just ahead of the midway point of the period as Madison Desmarais buried a shot to put Nipissing up 3-2.
Emma Thomas and Madison Laberge earned helpers on the go-ahead goal.
The Gaels refused to stay down despite trailing for the third time in the game.
With 28.5 left in the period, Queen’s found the back of the net to even the game and send the teams to the second intermission all tied up at 3-3.
In the third, it took almost half the period, but the Lakers grabbed their fourth lead of the game.
Megan Hayhurst scored from a tough angle, banking the puck off the goalie and into the net, putting Nipissing up 4-3 with 11 minutes left in regulation.
Thomas picked up her second assist on the game with the lone helper.
Nipissing extended their lead with five minutes left in the third.
Lana Duriez found the back of the net after a strong shift down low from her line.
Ashlyn Zaharia and Desmarais picked up assists on the fifth Lakers goal.
With just under two minutes to go, the Lakers added an empty-netter to put the game out of reach.
Ashley Taciuk capped off the scoring with her first of the season.
Chantelle Sandquist was back between the pipes for the Lakers as she turned aside 26 shots, while Nipissing had 29 of their own at the Gaels net.
The win improves the Lakers record to 5-1 as the Lakers sit in first place in the OUA East.
Next up, the Lakers wrap up their homestand Friday night as they welcome the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks to town.
Game time is 7 p.m. at Memorial Gardens.