The Guelph Gryphon women's hockey team defeated the Waterloo Warriors 2-1 in overtime tonight (Nov 10^th), in Guelph at the Gryphon Centre. Erin Small (Pickering, Ont.) scored the overtime winner and her ninth of the season for the Gryphons.
 
This game followed a recent match-up against the Warriors and the Gryphons when the Warriors took the game 3-1. The Gryphons now move to 8-2-1 for a total of 17 points – just enough to take the top spot in the OUA standings and push the Laurier Golden Hawks out to second. The Warriors fall down to 4-6-1.
 
The Gryphons played an offensive first period and took many shots with close opportunities. Warrior goalie Rebecca Bouwhuis (Orillia, ON) played a strong game and shut down many Gryphon attacks. Guelph maintained most of the possession on the ice and this soon paid off with the Gryphon's first goal from Kim Wong (Mississauga, ON) after being set up by Tamara Bell (Guelph, ON) and Brittney Crawford (Guelph, ON). Wong took a shot from just inside the blue line and ripped through Waterloo defence and straight through Bouwhuis leg's at 19:09 on a power-play.
 
Guelph started the second period with consecutive aggressive attacks in Waterloo's end, trying to secure their lead. Bouwhuis managed to shut them out with help from Warrior defenseman Sarah Endicott (Toronto, ON) who was always cutting off Gryphon plays.
 
Gryphon rookie Jessica Pinkerton (Oshawa, ON) had a few good opportunities outside of the Waterloo net – one which was a breakaway but Bouwhuis managed to deflect the puck over the net.
 
The Warriors tied up the score in the 12^th minute of the second during a power-play, after a pile-up outside of the Gryphon net left the right corner vulnerable and Warrior forward Sarah Wolfe (Waterloo, ON) took advantage.
 
The Warriors and the Gryphons came into the third period tied 1-1. Erin Small (Pickering, ON) had a great opportunity at net after she stole a failed pass between Waterloo players but Bouwhuis once again deflected it out. The Gryphons continued to significantly lead with their official shots on net, which totaled 35-8 by the end of the night, but couldn't make use of them and finished the third in a stale-mate.
 
The Gryphons held most of the possession on the ice in over-time and were determined to overcome the Warriors. At 1:50 in the fourth period Erin Small finally succeeded after she shot over the right shoulder of Bouwhuis into the top left corner of the net for her ninth goal of the season. She was assisted by Michelle Sabourin (Pickering, ON).
 
The Gryphons face the York Lions at the Gryphon Centre on Saturday (Nov. 12).  Puck drops at 7:30pm.