The Brock Badgers women’s hockey team defeated the eighth-ranked Waterloo Warriors 2-1 on Nov. 2 at Canada Games Park, extending their win streak to two.
Madison Cronkwright scored the game-winning goal for the Badgers early in the third period, as Hannah Ryan opened the scoring in the second, while rookie goaltender Kennedy Lonson made an OUA career-high 30 saves for her second consecutive win of the season.
Lonson continued her impressive play in the net after dazzling in Brock’s 5-1 win over the Toronto Varsity Blues on Oct. 31. The Business major made 12 stops in the first period, which included denying the Warriors from scoring on both their power plays, as the opening frame ended scoreless.
In the second, the Badgers continued to showcase their tenacious forecheck which was dominant in their first win of the season against Toronto, hemming the Warriors in their defensive zone for long stretches of the game. With Waterloo under pressure midway through the period, Ryan stripped the Warriors of the puck before rifling it top shelf past St. Catharines native Lauryn Busseri to give the Badgers the lead entering the third period.
However, the Warriors wasted no time responding in the third. Just over a minute into the period, Keiara Raitt beat Lonson on the short side to tie the game at one apiece and swing momentum into Waterloo’s favour.
The Warriors nearly scored another in quick succession, but Lonson had other ideas, showcasing her swift post-to-post speed to deny Leah Herrfort of a glorious scoring chance in the slot.
Lonson’s save sprung the Badgers the other way as superb passing in the neutral zone found the stick of Cronkwright who beat Busseri blocker side to regain the lead. The fourth-year Sport Management major now has four points, two goals and two assists in her last two games, as she looks to rebound after a slow start to the season.
Setting up Cronkwright’s game-winner with a sharp tape-to-tape pass was Madelyn Walsh, who now leads the team with four assists and six points to begin the 2024-25 campaign.
Randyll Strongman also recorded an assist on the goal, marking her third point of the season, as the Badgers beat the Warriors 2-1, handing Waterloo their first regulation loss of the year.
Next, the Badgers (2-3) visit the TMU Bold (1-5) on Nov. 8 before hosting the Carleton Ravens (2-6) the following night.
For more information on the Brock Badgers women’s hockey team, visit gobadgers.ca.