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THE OFFICIAL HOME OF TMU Bold
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A TMU player chases down an opponent from behind
Photo by Emily Simonetta
2
Winner Nipissing NIP
1
TMU TMU
Winner
Nipissing NIP
2
Final
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TMU TMU
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Nipissing NIP 0 1 0 1 2
TMU TMU 1 0 0 0 1

Game Recap: Hockey (W) | | Jay Greyvenstein

Griffin's brilliance not enough against Nipissing

TORONTO - The TMU Bold women's hockey team fell in a hard fought defeat to the Nipissing Lakers on Friday night at the MAC. It was a 2-1 loss in a shootout for the Bold against the OUA's East division leading Lakers, that moved them to 1-6-1 on the season. Despite their slow start to the season, the Bold still sit in a playoff position roughly one third of the way through the season.

The Lakers' forecheck provided problems for the Bold early on. Throughout the contest, the Nipissing forecheck kept the puck inside the TMU end. Lauren Griffin was strong throughout stopping 47 of 48 shots faced. They bailed the Bold out of multiple defensive zone turnovers and odd-player rushes through the opening ten minutes. Entering tonight Griffin, the second-year keeper from Ottawa, boasted an impressive .916 save percentage in their six previous starts this season.

"[Griffin's] come here on a mission, wanting to keep that starting role," said head coach Lisa Haley. "I think that gives our group a lot of confidence, knowing that they're gonna be there to save us."

The Bold penalty kill would reward Griffin's play with Neely Van Volsen recording her second goal of the season while shorthanded. The goal, assisted by Megan Breen, helped the Bold settle into the game after a shaky start to the contest. As the opening frame wound down the Bold played better defensive hockey, with Griffin cleaning up any Nipissing chances. Kayla Kondo helped out on defence, with an impressive back check preventing a prime Lakers scoring opportunity. After 20 minutes of action, the Bold had been outshot 12-7 but led 1-0 as a result of their "bend but don't break defence".

TMU was in an identical position as their first contest against Nipissing this season. In their October 14th contest, the Bold led after the first period. However, three Nipissing goals in the second would sink the Bold. Tonight would tell a different story.

The Bold began the frame on their heels, with the game taking on a physical tone. Despite the Lakers' relentless pressure, they were unable to solve Griffin and the Bold defence through the middle stanza's opening minutes. The Bold's neutral zone trap limited the Nipissing ability to carry the puck into the TMU zone. Abby DeCorby and the Bold defence moved the puck well, helping balance the flow of play.

Nipissing would pull even on the power play with 5:32 remaining in the frame. The Bold would be hemmed in their own end for the majority of the final five minutes as Nipissing looked to jump in front. The Bold defence would hold out, with the teams entering the second intermission even at one.

The final 20 minutes represented a big period for the Bold looking for a statement win against one of the league's top teams. Entering the frame, Haley's message to the squad was simple: the third period is all that matters.

"It comes down to 20 minutes. The first two periods didn't matter," said Griffin on the coach's message.

The Bold responded to that message, limiting shots to the outside for Nipissing. It was a choppy start for both sides with neither connecting on passes and establishing consistent and sustained zone time. The teams traded possession but few opportunities during the first half of the period. The Bold would eventually have a golden opportunity with the puck bouncing to Kondo, sending her in alone on a breakaway. A great stop by the Nipissing keeper kept things even, as both teams kept pressing. Griffin would respond with a spectacular sequence of their own as the time wound down.

Following these chances, a switch was flipped. The contest became tense, with both teams looking to capitalize on the other's mistakes. The teams skated up and down the ice, with both recording their best chances in the final five minutes. Despite these chances, the game would go to overtime at 1-1.

The frenetic pace would continue in the 3-on-3 extra frame. With roughly three minutes to go in the overtime, Nipissing held a 47-14 advantage in shots. Griffin had answered the call all night, keeping the Bold just one shot away from victory. However the extra period did nothing to break the deadlock, as the teams would require a shootout to determine a winner.

In the shootout, the Lakers would finally solve Griffin, albeit on just one of three attempts, as they took the opener of the weekend set. The two teams will rematch on Saturday, with coverage from the MAC beginning at 1:15.
 
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