Shutout seals deal
By Ryan Rogers
Sports Editor
February 6, 2008
 With a game to spare before the end of the season, the Lancers Women’s Hockey Team secured a spot in the playoffs with a shutout of the Western Mustangs last weekend.
The Lancers were in the tough position in the midst of a two-game losing streak, and were trying to maintain their fifth place position in the OUA. The Mustangs were fighting for their playoff lives as well, but were eliminated from contention with the loss.
With the high scoring first-place Laurier Golden Hawks closing out the Lancers’ regular season, the ladies were fighting to get the points at hand instead of trying their luck with the best team in the OUA.
Both Western and Windsor were held goalless through the first two periods, leaving all the scoring for the third.
Head Coach Carrie Sekela said the pressure was on for the third period. “Basically, it was a new game,” she said.
“It was zero-zero, and it was a twenty-minute hockey game. This game was for all the marbles, if we win we go to the playoffs, if we lose, there’s a chance we might not make it to the playoffs.”
She continued, “I think they (the Lancers) realized just how much pressure was in that third.”
The first two periods were another example of the Lancers taking control of a game, but struggled to execute on offense. They were especially frustrated with some of the saves being made by Western’s goalie, Danielle Le Ber, who made 32 saves on the night.
The Lancers scored early in the third as Candace Rapchak snuck a shot through Western’s goalie, Danielle Le Ber.
The goal came in the first minute of the third, and on the power play. Ashley Kirby and Casandra Meloche earned the assists.
On the next shift Kelly Calhoun was toppled in a skirmish and had to receive some attention from the training staff. But Calhoun wouldn’t be dissuaded, and fought back to score an insurance goal. Sekela commented, “You know Calhoun’s alright when she scored that second goal there.”
After an odd-man rush, the puck was fired behind the net by Manon Davis, and then passed back out in front by Rapchak where Calhoun awaited with an open net.
She scored easily, and excitedly, as the took some pressure off of their goaltender, Jamie Tessier, who earned her third shutout of the season.
Tessier was named the first star of the game and made 23 saves to preserve their playoff spot.
Sekela was pleased with Tessier’s progress. “She played fantastic. She’s coming out of her net more, and she’s getting better as the season progresses. It’s nice that’s she’s only in her second year, her sophomore year of playing. It’s fantastic how much she’s matured as an athlete and as a goaltender.”
Tessier and her teammates are thrilled to have qualified for the post-season. “It feels great,” said Tessier.
“Everybody’s excited. We can look forward now and put everything else in the past, and take each game one step at a time.”
Sekela agreed, “It feels fantastic, it’s nice that we don’t have to go down to the last game of the season pushing to make the playoffs. We already have it in the bag at least, we don’t know where we’re going to land from fourth and sixth, but we can breathe a little easier now.”
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