ST. CATHARINES, Ont. - The U SPORTS No. 2-ranked Guelph Gryphons women's hockey team become the winningest team in program history Thursday night with a 3-1 victory over the Brock Badgers. Three different goal scorers and a standout performance from goaltender Sophie Helfenstein helped lead the Gryphons to a 3-1 victory over the Badgers for their 22nd win of the regular season, a mark no other team in University of Guelph women's hockey has ever reached. The victory also marked the 14th consecutive win for the OUA leading team, with the Gryphons having failed to suffer a loss since November 17. 

It took just 1:07 for the 0-0 tie at Canada Games Park to be broken, with the Badgers getting on the board after a trickling puck made its way past the goal line. Despite the early deficit the Gryphons wasted no time tying things up, as they have done all season, scoring just 50 seconds later. Standout rookie blueliner Reese Coffey fired a shot which bounced off the stick of a Brock defender and straight to third-year forward Jessica Kouleas who sent a one-timer just past the stretched-out pad of Badgers goaltender Kenzie Harmison for the early equalizer. For Kouleas the score marked her second goal of the season while Coffey picked up her 13th point of the campaign. 

The Gryphons were not finished with their opening period scoring however, as with 1:44 remaining in the frame Hannah Tait came up with a perfect redirection of a Brielle Caruso point shot for her 14th goal of the season. The Gryphon captain now sits atop the conference in scoring, tied only with the Waterloo's Leah Herrfort with three games remaining in the regular season. For Caruso the assist marked her 4th point of the season while veteran forward Tori Verbeek picked up the secondary assist for her 15th assist and 22nd point. 

A scoreless second period was highlighted by rookie goaltender Sophie Helfenstein making several key saves to maintain the Gryphon lead. Helfenstein finished the game with 19 saves on 20 shots bringing her season save percentage to .952 in seven appearances in her freshman season. The product of Ajax, Ontario also kept her season record clean, picking up her 7th win and 5th allowing one goal or less. 

Fourth-year forward Maya Graham would solidify the Gryphon win 3:26 into the final frame, scoring with an absolute blast of a one-timer after Katherine Heard forced a turnover in the Badgers zone. It marked Graham's 7th goal and 14th point of the season as she continues a career-best year with the Gryphons. 

The Gryphons (22-1-2) will now head to London Saturday night (Feb. 10) where they will take on the Western Mustangs in their final road game of the season before returning to their home ice for back-to-back games against the Windsor Lancers to close out the regular season. With a win against the Mustangs the Gryphons can clinch 1st-place in the OUA conference standings and home ice advantage throughout the 2024 McCaw Cup playoffs. Saturday night's game at Thompson Arena can be viewed live online at www.oua.tv.