The Nipissing Lakers women’s hockey team is a win away from the McCaw Cup championship game after a 5-2 victory over the University of Toronto Varsity Blues. The Lakers Game 1 victory on the road was thanks to their big guns coming through in the clutch.
Hunter Mosher opened the scoring on the powerplay at 3:48 of the first period, with Kaley Tienhaara and Jade Gauthier drawing the assists. Then at 11:20 of the first period the Lakers regular season leading scoring Sam Strassburger made it 2-0, this time Bronwyn Bolduc and Zosia Davis drew the assists. Bolduc would add a goal of her own midway through the second period, before Toronto finally got on the board late in the second on a goal by Taylor Day. Natalie Graham scored two goals in the third, sandwiched between a Jessica Robichaud powerplay goal to give the Lakers the big Game 1 win. Goaltender Jackie Rochefort made 16 saves in the win for the Lakers.
The series now shifts back to North Bay on Friday night at 7:00pm. With a win, the Lakers would head to the McCaw Cup championship game. If Toronto can manage to even the series, the winner take all Game 3 will be on Saturday night at 7:00pm at Memorial Gardens.
