Women’s hockey eliminated from OUA semifinals

After nine minutes of overtime in game two, the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks were eliminated from the Ontario University Athletics semifinals by the Guelph Gryphons by a score of 2-1. The Hawks were swept 2-0 in the best-of-three series and had their season officially end.

Guelph swept the series and earned a berth in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport nationals, but Laurier made them earn it.

The Hawks got the early jump on the No. 1 Gryphons when fifth-year defender Blair Connelly opened up the scoring in the first period with a snipe to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead. The goal marked her seventh career post-season goal.

Frustration set in for both teams in the second period, as extracurriculars transpired after the whistle.

With the clock ticking, Guelph played with desperation in the third period, looking for the tying goal. Smith continued to keep the Hawks in the game, shutting the door on the Gryphons potent offence. But after 50 minutes, the Gryphons found the back of the net when Katherine Bailey scored to tie things up at one.

Regulation couldn’t solve it, and like usual Laurier playoff hockey, the game headed to overtime. And with 11 minutes left in the period, Kaitlin Lowy beat Smith glove side to end the Hawks season. It marked the second consecutive year that the Hawks were eliminated by the top seed in the playoffs after losing to Western in game two last year.

Smith backstopped the Hawks to a 45-save performance and held Laurier in the game. Her counterpart Lamenta stopped 24.

The loss also marked the end for Laurier’s graduating seniors, as Connelly, Haley Baxter, Jessie Hurrell, Erika Kiviaho and Robyn Degagne are graduating this year.