Last weekend Queen’s travelled to Oshawa to take on the University of Ontario Institute of Technology Ridgebacks, but despite 38 shots on goal they couldn’t put that puck in and dropped the decision 6-2.
The Ridgebacks came out strong in the first period, notching three goals in four minutes to send the Gaels into the locker room in the first intermission scratching their heads.
The second period saw the Ridgebacks notch another, ending starting goaltender Melissa John’s night after 16 shots against. Backup goaltender Katie Boyd came in and only allowed one more, but the damage was done. An empty net shorthanded goal in the dying moments of the game closed the door on any chances of a miracle comeback.
Both Gaels goals came at the end of the second, both on the powerplay, courtesy of Cassie Sparks and Kelsey Thomson, and had two more disallowed.
Gaels’ forward Becky Conroy, who notched an assist, said that the disallowed goals were a blow to Queen’s in the effort to pick themselves up after the shaky first period.
“I think that we got a lot of shot and they had good goaltending,” she said. “We had two goals called back which kills the momentum. … Our captains are pretty good at talking and lifting everyone, getting people to think about the next period than dwell on the last one. We just need to concentrate on shooting on net and finishing.”
Conroy said that, while the Ridgebacks are a brand new team, they expected a tough battle after UOIT was beaten 9-0 by Laurier a week earlier.
“Our whole team expected them to come out hungry, which they did,” she said.
For improvements, Conroy said the goals against were down to an inability to the goalie and clear the puck away from the net.
“Seeing that all of those goals came on the rebound, it shows that we need to be first to the puck and clear out our own rebounds,” she said. “We depend on our goalies because they are the best in the league but we need to crack down and play our own system in the zone. We’re going to work on our defensive system. We’re going to crack down in our own end and keep shooting on net.”
The Gaels have a challenging homestand ahead of them, taking on the Waterloo Warriors on Saturday, then the Laurier Golden Hawks on Sunday. Both games will be played at the Memorial Centre.
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