The Waterloo Warriors women's hockey team knows that playoff hockey can look a little different than in the regular season. But thanks to their extensive big-game experience, they know exactly how to win those tough postseason games.
The Warriors used a pair of opportune goals, some top-notch netminding, and plenty of grit to complete a first-round sweep of the Laurier Golden Hawks with a 2-1 win in game two of their best-of-three OUA quarterfinal series on Saturday afternoon at RIM Park in Waterloo.
Leah Herrfort (Palmerston,ON/) and Tatum James (Stratford, ON/) each scored a goal and added an assist for the Warriors, who advance to the OUA semifinals for the second straight season. Kara Mark (New Hamburg,ON/) was outstanding in the Waterloo net with 34 saves, including 15 in the third period alone.
The Warriors opened the scoring in game two, when Herrfort batted in a point shot from game one overtime hero Lyndsey Acheson midway through the opening period. It was the second time in two playoff games that Waterloo got on the board first against Laurier, after surrendering the first goal to the Hawks in each of their four regular-season matchups.
The game remained tied through a physical first and early second period, until Elle Spencer knotted up the contest just over four minutes into the middle frame. But the Warriors were quick to respond on a power play, as a partially-blocked Herrfort shot was deposited by James on the doorstep to make it 2-1 after two periods.
With their season in the balance, the Hawks pressured throughout the third period. Their efforts ramped up with under three minutes left, as a Waterloo penalty gave Laurier two full minutes of 6-on-4 with an empty net. But Mark made a handful of huge saves, and Waterloo got some integral shot blocks from Brooklyn Cole (Kitchener,ON/) and Jessie Fennell (Fonthill, ON/) to hold on to the victory.
The Warriors will now move on to the OUA semifinal series, with a spot in the McCaw Cup final and the U Sports national championship tournament on the line. They'll face the York Lions, who pulled off a major upset with their sweep of the OUA East top-seeded Nipissing Lakers in round one. The Warriors will host game one against the Lions on Wednesday, February 28, with puck drop slated for 7pm.
