WOMEN’S HOCKEY

UOIT Ridgebacks Media Release
Thursday, January 17, 2008

Golden Gaels Look For A Season Sweep Over the Ridgebacks

Oshawa (OUA) – On Saturday night at the Campus Ice Centre, the UOIT Ridgebacks women’s hockey team will look to play spoiler as they take on the fifth place Queen’s University Golden Gaels at 7:30 pm.

THIS WEEK
Sat. Jan. 19 vs. Queen’s Golden Gaels – 7:30 pm

LAST WEEK
Sat. Jan. 12 vs. Guelph Gryphons L 0-3
Sun. Jan. 13 vs. Guelph Gryphons L 2-4

UOIT RIDGEBACKS
It is a light schedule for the Ridgebacks (1-17-1-2) this week with only one game on tap. UOIT players have had the week to rest and will look to get off to a quick start in their game against the Golden Gaels.

Despite picking up two losses on the weekend to the No. 9 ranked Guelph Gryphons, the UOIT Ridgebacks, led by head coach Gary Pitcher, put up a good effort holding one of the OUA’s top offences to seven goals in two games. In their 3-0 loss to Guelph, starting goaltender Carleigh Taggart (Oshawa, ON) looked phenomenal as she made 46 stops on the night. The next night, UOIT found themselves in a 2-2 tie into the second, but could not capitalize on their opportunities as Guelph went on to grab a 4-2 victory.
 
QUEEN’S GOLDEN GAELS
After picking up a 3-2 win over the powerhouse University of Toronto Varsity Blues, the Golden Gaels failed to build any momentum as they skated to a pair of 2-2 draws against the Brock Badgers over the weekend.

Elizabeth Kench of the Golden Gaels is having a tremendous season as she has recorded 24 points in 21 games. Kench is third in OUA scoring, four points behind the leader. Four of her teammates are also in double digits in scoring; Becky Conroy (15), Kelsey Thomson (14), Victoria Kaufmann (13) and Amanda Morra (12). Goaltenders Katie Boyd and Melissa John have seen even playing time appearing in 11 and 12 games respectively.

HEAD-TO-HEAD
Queen’s holds a 2-0 season series advantage over the UOIT Ridgebacks and will meet for the final time in the 2007-08 OUA regular season on Saturday night. The Golden Gaels defeated UOIT by scores of 5-1 and 3-1 in the two meetings.

In their first meeting of the year, Kench recorded a goal and an assist while teammate Andrea Leblanc added two helpers as the Gaels cruised to a 5-1 win. The next match-up, UOIT managed to hold Kench off the scoreboard but some costly Ridgebacks mistakes allowed the Golden Gaels to narrowly skate to a 3-1 win. Both Taggart and Melissa Scott started one game apiece in UOIT’s losses to Queen’s.

MARKETING & PROMOTIONS
The $1,000 Bursary Giveaway presented by Durham Dodge Chrysler Jeep will continue. Durham College and UOIT student qualifiers will be selected at every UOIT Ridgebacks and Durham Lords home game for the remainder of the 2007-08 season. During the final men’s hockey home game at the Campus Ice Centre (February 8, 2008), one lucky student will walk away with a $1,000 bursary.
 
BROADCASTING LIVE
Fans can listen live to every Ridgebacks home game online via the Riot Radio at www.theriotradio.com

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott Dennis
Sports Information and Marketing Coordinator
Durham College and UOIT Athletics
905.721.2000 Ext. 2784 (P)
905.721.3117 (F)
scott.dennis@dc-uoit.ca