After shouldering a 1-0 defeat against UOIT Ridgebacks Oct. 21 the women in black and gold aimed for a win at home against the Queen’s Gaels the next day.
Their home-opener Oct.20 had been disappointing for the team who had had a very strong pre-season.
In a comeback victory in overtime, after Queen’s dominated most of the game, the Warriors won 3-2.
The Warriors’ starting line-up featured goalie Taylor Reimer who played a brilliant game that kept the Warriors in a position to catch up to the Gaels late in the third.
The game started off with Queen’s visibly dominating.
Queen’s in their red and blue uniforms were fierce and aggressive from the get-go.
The Warriors had the first shot on goal and Queen’s had the first of many penalties just three minutes in.
After the first period the score remained 0-0 but the shots on net showed who was leading as they were 8-4 for Queen’s.
The second period started with a bang when Queen’s drew first blood scoring less than a minute in.
This didn’t deflate the Warriors as the game became more aggressive and Queen’s wracked up two more penalties.
Reimer’s save with a minute left in the second period, gave the Warriors their best chance in the third. Shots at the end of the second were 20-9 for the Gaels.
The third period started the same as the second with a quick goal from Queen’s Katrina Manoukarakis, her second of the afternoon.
The game continued at a slow pace until the Warriors scored their first goal of the night seven minutes in, after a great 2-on-2 play by Maryn Caragata and Sarah Rettinger.
The most heart-racing goal came within a minute of the game’s finality when one of the Warriors, Alison Hanson, scored, tying the game and heaging into overtime.
Overtime lasted only two minutes when Street, Marriott and MacDonald sealed the deal for the Warriors, propelling them to a 3-2 victory over Queen’s.
This was Street’s second career goal of the season.
“It was a grind for us,” said Head Coach Shaun Reagan, “but the girls stuck with it and it paid off.”
“I felt we played a much better game in our season opener but that’s the way it goes sometimes and we’ll take the two points today. We’ve got a lot of things to clean up before our next games but I’m happy with our overall effort.”
The Warriors’ next match takes place on Oct. 28 at the Memorial Rec Complex as the girls go on to fight the battle of Waterloo.
Puck drops at 7:30 p.m.
