OUA roundup: Nationally ranked teams all victorious

OTTAWA - Despite rainy conditions and a sluggish start to the game, the No. 3 nationally-ranked Ottawa Gee-Gees (9-1-2) came away with a convincing 6-0 win over the Trent Excalibur (1-10-1) for their eighth shutout of the season on Friday.

Midway through the first half, defender Nikki Moreau (Almonte, Ont.) capitalized on a rebound in front of the net, scoring what turned out to be the game-winning goal.

Only four minutes later, Sara Bullock (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) picked up a nice feed through the middle from defender Dominique Falardeau (Gatineau, Que.) to secure a 2-0 lead over Trent.

First-year human kinetics major Krista Draycott (Ottawa) made a nice move on Excalibur goalkeeper Erin Persi (Pickering, Ont.) after coming off the bench for the Gee-Gees third goal of the first half.

Bullock added one more early in the second half followed by two late goals by fifth-year striker Courtney Luscombe (Ottawa). Luscombe currently leads the OUA with eight goals. Mélissa Pesant (Gatineau, Que.) and Michelle McElligot (Ottawa) combined for the shutout.

"Overall we had lots of opportunities to score and had a better offensive output than we did the last time we played Trent when we beat them 3-0," said Gee-Gees head coach Steve Johnson. "We have become a much more aggressive team and we are more efficient at scoring goals."

The Gee-Gees recorded 18 shots on net, capitalizing on six of them. 

The battle for first place in the OUA East division heats up on Saturday as the Gee-Gees take on the No. 6 Toronto Varsity Blues at 1 p.m. at Matt Anthony Field.

LAURIER 7, WATERLOO 1

At Waterloo, the No. 5 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks easily handled their cross-town rival Warriors (1-7-2) by a 7-1 count.

Sara Hopper (Thornhill, Ont.) and Ali McKee (Bracebridge, Ont.) each scored two goals each for the Golden Hawks (8-1-1). The win gives the Hawks a three-point advantage over the York Lions for the OUA West division lead.

Hopper opened the scoring just three minutes into the match to give the purple and gold an early lead. McKee followed that up seven minutes later with her fourth goal of the year. McKee also netted the Hawks third goal, giving the visitors a three goal lead at the break.

The Hawks started off the second half the same way they did the first with a goal five minutes in from Julia Marchese (Oakville, Ont.). Hopper scored her second of the match and third of the weekend in the 70 minute.

Waterloo's Kaitlyn Barnett (Kitchener, Ont.) got the home team on the board in the 75 minute of the match. Laurier's Becca Isaacs (London, Ont.) and first year Brynn Metherell (Burlington, Ont.) rounded out the scorers for the Golden Hawks.

TORONTO 3, CARLETON 0

At Carleton, the No. 6 Toronto Varsity Blues (9-0-2) shut out the host Ravens 3-0.

The Varsity Blues took the lead in the 30th minute as first-year striker Jessica Fantozzi (Richmond Hill, Ont.) got the ice breaker. Toronto took a 2-0 lead into halftime courtesy of first-year defender Mel Bowen (West Vancouver, B.C.) in the 41st minute.

Third-year defender Nav Deol (Mississauga, Ont.) added a third goal for the Varsity Blues in the second half. Mary Anne Barnes (Scarborough, Ont.) earned the shutout victory in net.

The Ravens drop to 5-6-1 on the season.

QUEEN'S 1, NIPISSING 0

At Nipissing, the host Lakers (2-6-3) made it difficult for the No. 7 Queen's, but the Gaels (9-1-1) escaped with a 1-0 victory.

The game remained scoreless until the 71st minute, when fifth-year striker Renee MacLellan (Kingston, Ont.) scored the game-winner for Queen's.

The Gaels have won eight straight games.

YORK 5, GUELPH 1

At York, the Lions (7-2-1) won their second straight against the Guelph Gryphons (0-7-3), this time by a 5-1 score.

Ami Otaki (Kanagawa, Japan) earned a hat trick for the Lions. Nicole Campbell (Scarborough, Ont.) and Samantha Gauthier (Laval, Que.) also scored for York.

Earning Guelph's lone goal was third-year player Kristen Cavanagh (Whitby, Ont.).

MCMASTER 1, BROCK 0

At McMaster, the Marauders (3-4-3) defeated the Brock Badgers 1-0 in the second of a home-and-home series.

First-year striker Samantha McLaren (Oakville, Ont.) scored the game-winning goal, giving McMaster its second win in three tries.

First-year goalkeeper Michelle Spadafora (Dundas, Ont.) earned the shutout victory in net.

Brock now has a record of 5-3-2.

LAURENTIAN 2, RMC 0

At Laurentian, the Lady Vees (4-6-1) used home field to their advantage, ending a six-game winless streak by defeating the RMC Paladins 2-0.

Leanne Adams (Mississauga, Ont.) put Laurentian on the board in the 25th minute, earning the game-winning goal. Lisa Watson (Newmarket, Ont.) later added an insurance marker.

Third-year goalkeeper Victoria Kulczycki (London, Ont.) earned the shutout in net.

The Paladins drop to 1-8-1 on the season.

Source: OUA Communications with files from Ottawa Gee-Gees and Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks