GUELPH, Ont. – The Gryphons women's hockey team opened up their postseason campaign on Thursday night (Feb. 27) as they shutout the York Lions 3-0 in Game 1 of the OUA quarterfinals. Teghan MacRae opening the scoring in the first period as Chihiro Suzuki added a shorthanded goal and Reese Coffey a power play goal in the third while Martina Fedel made 16 saves for the shutout on home ice to lead the Gryphons to a game one win and a series lead.
 
Having played the York Lions in the final game of the regular season on February 15, the Gryphons knew what to expect from Lions on Thursday night. Two minutes into the game, Martina Fedel was pressed into action as her quick reflexes with her left pad prevented the Lions from getting a deflection off a Gryphon skate to opening the scoring. It took Guelph some time to get into the game after the layoff leading into the postseason as they were able to find their stride as the period went along. At the 15:17 mark of the first, the Gryphs struck first as Teghan MacRae was left all alone on the point and she was able to fire a wrister to beat York goalie Emma Wedgewood, high glove to open the scoring.
 
After a scoreless second period, penalties would be the main theme in the third with both teams trading power play chances in the early part of period. With the Guelph back on the penalty kill for the second time in the period, they found the opening and took full advantage of it at the 5:33 mark of third. Jaime Magoffin on the PK made an outstanding pass off the boards that found the stick of Chihiro Suzuki as it sprung her free on the breakaway. Suzuki took full advantage of the opportunity as she was able to tuck her shot through the five-hole of Wedgewood and score shorthanded to give her side a 2-0 lead. The Gryphons would put game one away nine minutes later on the power play as Reese Coffey would score in very similar fashion to Teghan MacRae's opening goal of the game. Coffey had plenty of time and space from the point, getting her shot through traffic and scoring to give Guelph a 3-0 lead and seal the victory in game one.
 
Gryphon goalie Martina Fedel was sharp all night long, especially in the opening period making seven saves en route to a 16 save shutout and her fifth career OUA postseason shutout.
 
The Gryphons will now head to Toronto for game two of their quarterfinal series on Saturday afternoon, looking to advance to the semifinals with a win. Puck drop for game two is set for 1pm at Canlan Ice Sports and can be viewed live online at oua.tv.