Gryphon women add another victory to streak

GUELPH – The win streak for the Guelph Gryphons in OUA women’s hockey play reached 10 games Saturday as they edged the Western Mustangs 2-1 at the Gryphon Centre.

Last loss for the third-ranked Gryphs was a 1-0 setback in overtime to the Laurier Golden Hawks Nov. 17. Last regulation-time loss for the Guelph squad was a 4-1 defeat by the Waterloo Warriors at Waterloo Oct. 29 and there were five wins between those two losses.

Saturday, Brielle Caruso’s goal with 5:29 to go in the third period gave the Gryphs the win. Katelyn Dance and Alexie Olivier assisted on the play.

After a scoreless first period, Jaime Magoffin tallied at 6:25 of the second for the hosts. Assists went to Hannah Tait and Tori Verbeek.

Western pulled even five minutes later on a power-play goal by Alyssa Wouda. Arnica Bulmer and Emma Thomas collected assists.

The Gryphs outshot the Mustangs 39-13 including a 27-3 advantage in the first and third periods combined. Guelph was scoreless on five power plays while Western went 1-for-4.

Martina Fedel had 12 saves for the Gryphs while Brooke Vaccari had 37 for Western.

The Gryphs lead the West Division at 16-2-2-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) and are followed by the Waterloo Warriors (10-2-1-6), Laurier Golden Hawks (8-3-2-7), Western (5-4-3-8), Windsor Lancers (6-1-5-9) and Brock Badgers (6-1-3-10).

As top four in the division qualify for the playoffs, the Gryphs and East Division-leading Nipissing Lakers (14-3-0-3) have already clinched playoff berths.

The Gryphs, who have seven games remaining in their regular season, have a pair of games in the next week as they’re to host Laurier Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Gryphon Centre and play seventh-ranked Nipissing at North Bay Friday at 5 p.m.

• Guelph Sports Journal