The Brock Women’s hockey team returned to action for their first game of 2023 on Jan. 6.
Following an OUA championship, the Badgers had a rough start to the season as they stood 5-9 heading into the second semester of hockey. Unfortunately, their struggles continued into the new year as they gave up three first-period goals against the Windsor Lancers, putting themselves in quite the hole for the remaining 40 minutes of play.
The Badgers got into some penalty trouble in the second period, taking four penalties in the first nine minutes of the period. One of the penalties being a major for boarding. Luckily, the Badgers managed to kill off all four power plays and kept the deficit to three throughout the rest of the second period.
In the third period, Claudia Murphy got Brock’s first goal of 2023, cutting the deficit to just two with over 18 minutes to play. Unfortunately for the Badgers, Kristen Swiatoschik shut the door for Windsor the remainder of the period and Brock’s struggles continued, losing their fourth straight game in regulation.
Brock would have a chance at redemption on Jan. 7 as they set to play Windsor in the second game of a two game road trip. The Badgers looked hungry for revenge as they dominated play early, pressuring the Lancers defence in the offensive zone. Windsor played tight, checking defence not allowing too many dangerous chances in the first seven minutes of play.
It would be an offensive zone faceoff loss for the Badgers that led to a Windsor rush up ice and the eventual first goal of the game. But this did not phase the Badgers as they continued to control most of the possession in the offensive zone, just unable to find the back of the net.
Late in the first period, Windsor took their first penalty of the game sending Brock on the powerplay. Sustained pressure low in the offensive zone led to Brocks’ Rebekah Feld shot on net and a rebound batted home by Madison Cronkwright to tie the game at 1-1.
The rest of the first and the entirety of the second was scoreless and it was not until just over six and a half minutes into the third when a Windsor powerplay led to a goal from Jaden Cherry, giving them the 2-1 lead. Brock then continued to look for an equalizer and it came just over three minutes later when Claudia Murphy ripped a backhand over the shoulder of the Windsor goaltender Cadence Petitclerc to tie the game at two.
Both teams would be robbed for the remainder of the period as both goaltenders played outstanding third periods, each making 11 saves and both being a big reason that the game was headed to overtime.
After a back-and-forth overtime that was dominated by Windsor’s chances – one hitting the post and a two on zero where Harmison made an incredible blocker save to keep the game going – the Badgers were unable to match the pace of Windsor, leading to yet another loss. Keanna McKibbin beat Harmison in tight, sneaking the puck under the goaltender’s arm.
The Brock women’s hockey team is back in action on Jan. 13 at home against the University of Waterloo.
Tickets for all Badger home games can be found here and all information on the Badgers can be found at gobadgers.com.
