Gryphons women’s hockey improves to 5-1-1 on the season
The Gryphons are coming onto the ice after a 1-0 win over their fiercest rivals, the Queen’s Gaels, breaking their win streak on Nov. 8 – something the Gaels have done to the Gryphons before. Without question this gave the Gryphons a healthy dose of confidence walking into their game on Nov. 9 against the UoIT Ridgebacks.
Jessica Pinkerton takes the opening faceoff for the Gryphons, against the Ridgebacks’ Nicole Gorda. Guelph wins the faceoff, and immediately begins controlling the action, passing well, and taking an early lead in shots on net.
Photo By Cody Gresswell.
Occasionally, the Ridgebacks will smash through the Gryphons offence, but they’re always faced with a Gryphon or two in their way. That seems to be all it takes to stop the push, and turn the play back towards the Ridgebacks net.
Six minutes into the first period, Gryphon Leigh Shilton breaks out, and winds up a slap shot to which the Ridgebacks goalie, Tori Campbell, responds with a fantastic glove save, earning her cheers from both sections of the crowd. It quickly becomes obvious that Campbell’s goaltending is critical to the Ridgebacks defence.
The Gryphons hammer the puck back towards the Ridgebacks zone. Pinkerton, Kaitlyn Mora and Averi Nooren are after it, and the Ridgebacks defense turn on their heels, and rush to catch up to the Gryphons screaming down the ice.
They make it, but only just, and not in enough force to stop the wall of Gryphon-energy coming in towards their net. Pinkerton scores the first goal of the game, with assistance from Mora and Nooren. The crowd loves it, and it ratchets up the energy in the arena.
With six minutes to go, and fresh from a timeout, Guelph win their next faceoff. Within 12 seconds, Mora slides another one past the Ridgebacks goalie with help from Nooren and Brittany St. James, bringing the score to 2-0 for the Gryphons.
The Gryphons offence breaks down with one minute remaining, and the Ridgebacks go wide-open-throttle for the Gryphons net. The Gryphons about face and race to catch up to them. Stephanie Nehring, goalie for the Gryphons, readies herself, her tall frame an imposing obstacle between the Ridgebacks and some redemption. Nehring keeps the Ridgeback offensive at bay for a minute or so, and with 2 seconds left on the clock in the first period, the Ridgebacks slide one through, and get their first of the game.
Despite plenty of action in front of both nets, including a series of fantastic saves by Nehring, the middle frame would conclude with no goals, and the shots on net evened up.
The final period of play sees Mackenzie Wong skate up to join the offensive, winding up between the boards and the shoulders of one of the Ridgebacks defensemen. She goes down hard and doesn’t get up, hands grasping her left knee. After a few tense minutes, and some help from two of her teammates, Cassidy and Grant, she’s up and off the ice to universal cheers.
The Gryphons find another gear and become even more aggressive towards the Ridgebacks, making a break through the Ridgebacks defence with three fantastic passes, flicking the puck up past Campbell to score their third goal of the game.
They keep the heat on for the next three minutes and, with 40 seconds left, the Ridgebacks pull their goalie. Nooren takes the opportunity to score a final goal on the open net, and the buzzer sounds. Guelph takes the game 4-1 over the Ridgebacks.