GUELPH, Ont. – Not much separated the No. 9-ranked Queen's Gaels and the No. 6-ranked Guelph Gryphons in the OUA women's hockey standings heading into Saturday afternoon's marquee matchup at the Gryphon Centre. Not surprisingly, there was very little that separated the two teams on the scoreboard after 60 minutes of play. In the end, it would be the Queen's Gaels escaping Guelph with a 1-0 victory. The lone goal of the game came from Queen's at the 3:42 mark of the second period when fifth year forward Clare McKellar tipped home the game-winner for the first-place Gaels (14-2-3). With the loss, the Gryphons see their seven-game win streak come to an end as they fall to 13-5-0 and now sit 3rd in the OUA standings, six points back of top spot.
 
Queen's goalie Stephanie Pascal (Sudbury, ON) turned away all 20 shots sent her way for the shutout, while Gryphons' goalie Valerie Lamenta made 27 saves on the day. Guelph's best chance to tie the game up came midway through the third period when Mallory Young's pass found the stick of Cyan Roepcke, but her deflection was sent just wide of Pascal's net.
 
The Gryphons would continue to push for the tying goal let, pulling the goalie with just over two minutes remaining. Despite generating some great pressure, the Gryphons were unable to find the breakthrough. It marked the first time since November 18 that the Gryphons have been kept off the score sheet.
 
Guelph will not have little time to dwell on Saturday's result as they now get set to turn around and host the UOIT Ridgebacks on Sunday (2pm) at the Gryphon Centre. Sunday's game will mark the second meeting of the season between Guelph and UOIT, with the Ridgebacks winning 1-0 back on October 26 in Oshawa.