TORONTO, Ont. - The two-time defending OUA champion Guelph Gryphons women's hockey team picked up their first win of the 2017-18 season on Saturday afternoon at York University with a 4-1 road win over the York Lions. After York jumped out to a 1-0 lead late in the 1st period, the Gryphons responded by tying the game in the 2nd before using a three-goal 3rd period to seal the three points. With the result, the Gryphons improve to 1-1-0 on the season while York falls to 0-3-0.

Gryphons third year defenceman Laura Crowdis picked a good time to come up with the first goal of her Gryphon career. After suffering a 4-3 loss on home ice in their season opener on Thursday, the Gryphons found themselves trailing 1-0 to York late in the 2nd period. That's when the Gryphons received a spark from Crowdis, an Accounting major from Oakville, who unleashed a shot with three minutes remaining in the 2nd period that found the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1.

The Gryphons, who struggled at times to generate chances offensively, would find the breakthrough in the 3rd period third year forward Claire Merrick scoring the game-winner. York goalie Roxanne Kis was tough to beat on the night, turning away 32 of the 34 shots sent her way. But trailing late, the Lions were forced to pull their goalie for an extra skater, which the Gryphons took advantage of with both Kaitlin Lowy and Ashlee Lawrence scoring empty netters to push the lead to 4-1.

U of G goalie Valerie Lamenta made 30 saves for her first win of the season.

The game marked the first of a three-game road trip for the Gryphons who will next be in action on Thursday, October 26 in Oshawa versus the UOIT Ridgebacks. After that, the Gryphs head to Kingston for a Saturday afternoon showdown with the Queen's Gaels on October 28.