UOIT Ridgebacks Media Release
Saturday, January 17, 2009

UOIT puts on a good show at home for OGHA Night

Women’s Hockey: Toronto defeated UOIT 3-2

Oshawa, Ont. – Although temperatures outside were very cold on Saturday night, action in the Campus Ice Centre was red hot as the UOIT Ridgebacks women’s hockey team took on the University of Toronto Varsity Blues for Oshawa Girls Hockey Association night. The Ridgebacks looked impressive on home ice but fell short of a victory as the nationally ranked Varsity Blues pulled out a 3-2 victory.

With over 450 fans cheering her on, former Oshawa Lady General Kirstie Smithurst had a great game as she was in on both Ridgeback goals picking up a goal and an assist on the night.

UOIT would hold leads on two separate occasions, but the Varsity Blues found a way to even up the score both times and eventually take the lead for good early in the third period. Trailing 3-2 and with the goalie pulled, UOIT had a number of great scoring opportunities to even up the score but the team could not find the back of the net as Toronto held on for the one goal win.

Coming off the first shutout in UOIT team history, Emma Thompson (Hastings, Ont.) had another strong effort making 41 stops in net. Thompson has a save percentage of .916 this season, facing 486 shots, second most in the OUA. The freshman keeper has emerged as the number one starter for UOIT as she has played in six consecutive games.

UOIT did a good job containing Toronto’s power play on the night, as the Varsity Blues were shutout on five attempts. UOIT would go 1-for-9 on the power play while Toronto out shot the Ridgebacks 44-23.

The Ridgebacks fall to 3-15-0 on the year while Toronto improves 11-5-1, sitting in third place of the OUA standings. Toronto has picked up points in their last three games.

Things will not get any easier for UOIT as they will take on the second ranked and undefeated Laurier Golden Hawks (18-0-0) on Sunday night. Puck drop at the Campus Ice Centre is 7:30 p.m.

GAME RECAP

Toronto 3 at UOIT 2
 
1st Period
1. UOIT, A. Johnson (1) (S. Matthews, K. Smithurst) 2:00  
2. Toronto, L. Hill (4) (K. Urban, A. Cornell) 6:39  
 
2nd Period
3. UOIT, K. Smithurst (2) (R. Palmateer, S. Matthews) 6:03 PP
4. Toronto, C. Bazak (5) (B. Mirabelli) 12:39  
 
3rd Period
5. Toronto, C. Bazak (6) (S. Oue, L. Ryan) 3:27  

tor Shots: 18 13 13 TOTAL: 44
uoit Shots: 6 8 9 TOTAL: 23

Power Play Conversion
Toronto 0-5
UOIT 1-9

Goaltenders
Toronto
Valenta 11-5-0-1 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 60:00 SV: 21 GA: 2

UOIT
Thompson 3-10-0-0 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 58:21 SV: 41 GA: 3

Start: 7:30 PM
End: 9:30 PM
Attendance: 450

A QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS

Conference Record: 3-15-0
Overall Record: 3-17-1

Next Home Action
Sunday, January 18 vs. Laurier (7:30 p.m.) – CIC

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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)