By Luke Burrows
The Ryerson Rams women’s hockey team extended their winning streak to a season high on Nov. 15, as they defeated the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks 2-1 for their fourth consecutive victory.
The hundreds of students in attendance for the School Day Game were treated to a fast-paced event, featuring a first period penalty shot for the Rams that was the result of a poor Laurier line change. Ryerson forward Avery Horlock wasted no time, ripping a shot it past goaltender Cohen Myers glove to give the Rams the lead.
The opening frame concluded with the Rams controlling the tempo, stepping off the ice with a 11-7 shot differential. However, the Golden Hawks stormed back in the second period, dominating the Rams in their own zone and out shooting the home team 7-2 through the period.
Unfortunately for the Golden Hawks, the Ryerson offense couldn’t be suppressed enough down the stretch. Third-year forward Lauren Nicholson gave the Rams a 2-0 lead on a beautiful breakaway pass from teammate Keelin Farren.
In the third, the Rams penalty kill was forced to show why it’s ranked second in the league. Ryerson took three separate penalties in the frame including two full minutes of a 5-3 against. The Rams successfully killed the penalties, resulting in Laurier’s bottom ranked powerplay going 0 for 4 on the advantage.
Laurier forward Kaitlyn Hatzes managed to sneak one by Rams goalie Natalie Thompson to bring her team within one, but it would be too late as the final buzzer rang 32 seconds later.
“We put a push on all our [opponents],” said Thompson on the team’s success. “We don’t really let back, so I think it’s really helping us.”
Thompson, who was less than a minute away from a shutout, posted a stellar .963 save percentage that kept that Rams ahead in some very close situations. Since the Ryerson women’s hockey team’s arrival in 2011, they’ve never managed to string together five straight wins.
UP NEXT: After picking up their fourth win in a row, the Rams will have a chance to make history and win their fifth as they head to Guelph to take on the Gryphons on Nov. 21. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
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