The Brock women’s hockey team have had an up-and-down season. With just four games left in the regular season and a big four points on the line this past week, the Badgers went to battle against the Guelph Gryphons and Windsor Lancers.
On Feb. 8, the Badgers hosted the No. 2 Guelph Gryphons at Canada Games Park. The game got off to a great start for Brock as they took a 1-0 lead just over a minute into the game. Madelyn Walsh scored the goal from the point as she beat the Guelph goaltender cleanly. That marked Walsh’s seventh goal of the season, tied for first on the Badgers with Jenna Duarte and Randyll Strongman.
Exactly 50 seconds later, Guelph tied the game at one. A shot from the point from the Guelph forward bounced off a Brock defender and right onto the stick of Jessica Kouleas, who was able to beat Harminson just over the pad.
The rest of the period was back and forth with both teams having their fair share of chances in the offensive zone. Guelph and Brock had two opportunities on the powerplay but were unable to convert. The only other goal of the period came with just under two minutes left for Guelph, giving them a 2-1 lead heading into the second period.
Brock got the better of Guelph in the second period, out-shooting them eight to five despite having two minor penalties called against them.
The Badgers were unable to carry their offensive momentum into the third as they surrendered a goal 3:26 into the period. Guelph forward Maya Graham beat Harminson with a one timer after a defensive zone turnover by the Badgers. Brock pulled the goalie late, but were unable to beat Helfenstein as the game would end 3-1 and the Gryphons completed the season sweep against the Badgers (3-0).
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On Feb. 10, Brock travelled to Windsor to play their second and final game of the weekend. The Badgers were seeking to sweep the season series against Windsor as they beat them 2-1 in their first matchup back in January.
Going into the game Windsor was just two points ahead of the Badgers in the OUA West standings. A win for either team would get them one step closer to clinching the final playoff spot in their division.
Unlike the game against Guelph, the Badgers got off to a slow start surrendering the first goal just 1:04 into the game. As the period went on, the Badgers slowly started to gain momentum back, challenging Windsor goaltender Kristen Swiatoschik with 10 shots in the period.
Despite the pressure from the Badgers, the Lancers scored a late first-period goal, heading into the second period with a 2-0 lead.
The second period had a flurry of offence with both teams registering double-digit shots and getting two chances on the powerplay. Neither team scored a powerplay goal but Windsor managed to score a short-handed goal at the half way mark of the period, extending their lead to 3-0.
The Badgers’ never-say-die effort got them back in the game with two quick goals in the last five minutes of the period, courtesy of Madison Cronkwright and Malika McDonald. It was 3-2 heading into the final frame.
With just under 10 minutes left in the final period, the Lancers took a delay of game (puck over glass) penalty and the Badgers got a chance to tie the game on the powerplay. Walsh and Strongman had a couple of chances off the rush but the Badgers were never able to get set up in the offensive zone for an extended period of time.
Five minutes later, Windsor had an opportunity on the powerplay which they converted on extending the lead to two and putting the Badgers in a tough position to tie the game.
With three minutes left in the game, the Badgers pulled the goalie for the extra attacker and controlled the play in the offensive zone, moving it around the outside trying to find a shooting lane. A couple of tips in front were denied by the Lancers goalie but a pass from Cormier to Murphy was redirected beautifully into the top right corner with 55 seconds left in the game, 4-3.
Brock called a timeout to draw up a play and rest the players they wanted on the ice for the last moments of the game. Despite getting into the zone and putting pucks on the net, they were unable to find an equalizer and lost 4-3 to Windsor.
The Badgers have two games left this season, both against Western. They will need to win both to have a chance at making playoffs.
For tickets to the last two games of the season click here or watch on OUA.tv. For more information on the team, visit gobadgers.ca.