Averi Nooren scores overtime goal with 15 seconds left for 3-2 win
After a successful road trip through Toronto, in which the team split decisions between Ryerson and the University of Toronto, the Guelph Gryphons’ women’s hockey team returned to the cozy confines of the Gryphon Center on Oct. 25 for the first time in over two weeks. The return featured the Gryphons defeating the Brock Badgers by a score of 3-2 in overtime with only 15 seconds remaining in the extra frame. The exciting win moves the Gryphons to 3-0-1 on the season, while dropping the Badgers record to 0-3-1.
The Badgers opened the scoring in the first with a powerplay goal off the stick of forward Samantha Green, in what would be the period’s only goal after some back and forth play between the two teams. Gryphon goaltender Stephanie Nehring had herself a particularly strong period, stopping seven of eight Badger shots, including a dangerous odd-man rush late in the first.
Gryphon rookie forward Kaitlyn Lowy would get the home team on the board one minute into the second period, snapping a wrist shot home from the top of the circle for her second goal of the young season to tie the game at one.
…the hockey gods seemed to smile in Guelph’s favour…
Later in the period, 2013 OUA first team All-Star Jessica Pinkerton would give the Gryphons a 2-1 lead, tucking in her second goal of the season off a juicy rebound from Badger goaltender Stephanie Loukes in front of the net. Much like Nehring did in the first, Badger goaltender Loukes had a solid second period; despite allowing two goals, the goaltender turned away 12 shots in the frame. Loukes stopped 29 shots overall in the loss, while Nehring stopped 19 of her own for the win.
The Badgers would go on to tie the game in the third period with a nice individual effort by veteran forward Christina Ieradi scoring on the ever illusive and always dazzling wrap-around to tie the game at 2-2 at the 7:03 mark. That would end up being the only goal of the period as both teams seemed to tighten up defensively and both goaltenders continued their stellar play.
With both squads failing to break the tie before the end of regulation, the game headed to overtime tied at 2-2, a fitting and exciting storyline for the Gryphons’ first home game in over two weeks. After a pair of good scoring chances from Kelly Gribbons nearly ended the game early in the extra frame, the hockey gods seemed to smile in Guelph’s favour as Brock was whistled for a too-many-men penalty at the 3:38 mark, giving the Gryphons a powerplay with only about a minute remaining in overtime. With the clock ticking down, and the crowd on the edge of their seats, second-year forward Averi Nooren capitalized for the game-winning goal on the powerplay with just 15 seconds remaining in the overtime period, capping off an exciting and hard-fought victory for the Gryphons.
The Guelph Gryphons return to action on Nov. 1 when they visit the York Lions. The puck is scheduled to drop at 2 p.m.