Lions strike down Warriors in shootout

Lewis Chaitov
Staff Writer
Watching two determined teams in a shootout vie for that satisfying win over their opponents made for a suspenseful game Jan. 23.
In the end, the Lions women’s hockey team’s perseverance and unfaltering strength came through to win the shootout, making the final score 4-3.
In the first period, both teams seemed frozen, skating in slow motion – the scoreboard was zero-zero, with dismal shooting from all players, but it wouldn’t stay that way for long.

The Waterloo Warriors struck first with a power play goal in the second period from forward Emma McMillan, with an assist from her two teammates. York forward Katie Ippolito followed that up not long after, stealing the puck from a rebound and shooting it into the net.
The game really began as soon as third-year forward Jennifer Pet- kovics got on the ice and broke out two power play goals in the third period. The veteran player brought speed and skill at the right times and managed to outplay her rival throughout the match.
With the score tied even after overtime, the York Lions and Waterloo Warriors had no choice but to go to a shootout. It was a suspenseful watch as Petkovics came out strong once again with a quick skate down the ice and a great goal, bringing the Lions that much closer winning. But the Lions didn’t come back until the Waterloo Warriors made their misses and third-year forward Chloe Milano scored the winning goal.
Head coach Dan Church was impressed with the way his team played that day, but knows his team still needs improvement. “We need to come out with more of an urgency. We came out a little flat in the first 10 minutes of the first period, but once we talked about shooting the puck over the goalie’s ankles, we created more chances,” said Church.
The win is definitely a cause for celebration, but doesn‘t dismiss the fact the team still needs to work hard. In the second period the defence let up, letting the Warriors take three extra shots in one play on goaltender Sydney McMurter, with nobody picking up the puck for the Lions.
Though York out shot the Warriors 43 to 26 by the end, it’s mistakes like these that will cost them in the playoffs.
The team has been suffering the last few games from lack of discipline. The worst losses in their season have come from players making foolish decisions and lacking team cohesion. At the moment, the team is seventh in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) standings with a clutched playoff spot.
If the Lions stay consistent from here on out and do not let up, they can very well make it far. With only five games left in the regular season and their next match against the Western Mustangs, placed ninth in the OUA, there are a lot of challenges the Lions still have to overcome.
THINGS YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT THE WOMEN’S HOCKEY TEAM
The tallest player on York’s women’s hockey team is a two-way tie between Kristie Wilson and Stephanie Dovaston, both five-foot-nine.
York Lions hockey captain, Courtney Unruh grew up with two older brothers, who taught her how to play hockey.
York Lions women’s hockey team’s longest winning streak this season is three games.
Captain Courtney Unruh is currently playing for Team Canada at the World University Games in Turkey.
The York’s women’s hockey team won the OUA Championship in 1997.
Women’s hockey coach Dan Church has been with the York Lions hockey team for seven seasons, and was named head coach of Canada’s national women’s under-18 team.
The women’s hockey team have yet to beat the Laurier Golden Hawks in the season so far, who are first in the standings.
With files from yorkulions.ca and oua.ca