Lakers Athletics recap
Your Nipissing Lakers were in action on the court and on the ice last weekend, read all about it, right here.
Game briefs:
Men’s Hockey
L 5-1 @ UQTR
L 5-2 @ Concordia
Next: Friday night vs. Ottawa U, 7 pm at Memorial Gardens
Women’s Hockey
L 5-0 to Western
L 7- 1 to Windsor
Next: Saturday afternoon vs. Brock, 3:15 p.m. at Memorial Gardens; Sunday afternoon vs. Guelph, 2 p.m. at Memorial Gardens
Men’s Volleyball
W 3-0 vs. Toronto
L 3-0 vs. Ryerson
Next: Friday @. Guelph, 8 pm ; Saturday @ Waterloo at 7 p.m.
Women’s Volleyball
L 3-0 vs. Toronto
L 3-2 vs. Ryerson
No games scheduled this weekend
And now, for some more in-depth analysis, we turn to our Spots Information Clerk, Robb Fenton…
Consistency hurts Lakers men’s hockey on the road
It was a tough weekend results wise for the Nipissing Lakers men’s hockey team, but their play was a positive.
The Lakers dropped a pair of games on an Eastern trip, as they fell 5-1 to the UQTR Patriotes Friday night, before running into a hot goalie Saturday afternoon, and dropped a 5-2 decision to the Concordia Stingers.
In both games the Lakers got off to strong starts, controlling the first period, but failed to build up a big lead.
Lakers head coach Mike McParland said they had two strong periods in their first game on the road trip, but 20 bad minutes ended up killing them.
“We played a strong first and third period, but the second did us in,” he said of the game Friday night.
After allowing the first goal, Grant Toulmin tied the game just after the midway point of the first period against the Patriots.
However, three second period goals and 21 shots proved to be the Lakers undoing, as they came up short against the defending OUA champions.
McParland said goaltender John Chartrand had a solid game despite allowing five goals, as he made 45 saves.
The Lakers were outshot 50-33.
Saturday, it was a similar story as the Lakers came out strong again, outshooting the Stingers 11-7 in the first period and grabbed the lead heading into the intermission thanks to Toulmin’s second goal of the weekend and 13 th of the season.
The second period once again hurt Nipissing, as they took too many penalties and found themselves trailing after 40 minutes.
Two quick goals by the Stingers in the third period put the Lakers behind the eight-ball and after leading 1-0, the Lakers now trailed 4-1.
Jeff Leaist got one back for Nipissing cutting the lead to 4-2, but a late goal by Concordia capped off the game.
Kirk Rafuse made 30 saves in the loss, as the Lakers outshot Concordia 37-35.
McParland said his team deserved better Saturday, but weren’t able to bury their chances.
“The first star was the Concordia goalie, no doubt,” he said.
The Lakers are back in action Friday when they host the Ottawa Gee Gees.
Women’s Hockey struggles on home ice
It was a rough weekend for the Nipissing Lakers women’s hockey team as they were on the wrong end of two lopsided losses.
The Lakers hosted the Western Mustangs and Windsor Lancers, but managed only one goal and were shutout Saturday, losing 5-0 to the Mustangs and 7-1 to the Lancers.
In two games this season against the Lancers, the Lakers have been outscored 14-1 and the Mustangs outscored the Lakers 8-2 in their two meetings.
Sunday, the Lakers found themselves down 4-0 after the first period as they were outshot 10-4.
In the second period, after going down 5-0, the Lakers finally found the back of the net as Jade Gauthier scored her team-leading ninth goal of the season, but the Lancers would add two more in the third to cruise to the win.
Once again, the Lakers were forced to play both goalies, with Jackie Rochefort allowing four goals on 10 shots and Sabrina Picard surrendering three goals on 21 shots.
The Lakers look to bounce back from a tough weekend when they hit the road to play the Brock Badgers and Guelph Gryphons next weekend.
Lakers men’s volleyball top Blues, fall to Rams
One day after turning in maybe their best effort of the season, as the Nipissing Lakers earned their second win of the season, they were topped by the Ryerson Rams in straight sets.
The Lakers, who played a solid game, were unable to sustain any runs while the Rams seemed to get stronger later in each set as they went on to the 3-0 win.
It was a very competitive game, as the Rams won set one 27-25 and won the next two sets 25-22 to claim the victory.
The Lakers were coming off a 3-0 win over the Toronto Varity Blues, but couldn’t make it two in a row.
Their next action comes next weekend when they hit the road to face the Waterloo Warriors and Guelph Gryphons, the same teams they faced during the opening weekend of the season.
The Gryphons earned a 3-1 win, while the Warriors swept the Lakers 3-0. Nipissing is hoping for different results the second time around.
Rams edge Lakers women’s volleyball in five-set thriller
Sunday’s match against the Ryerson Rams was by far the best of the season for the Nipissing Lakers women’s volleyball team.
The Lakers left it all on the court, taking the Rams, who sit in fourth place in the East Division, to five sets, and the Lakers held a 2-1 lead after three sets, as well.
Unfortunately at the end of the day, the Rams walked away with the win, but the Lakers have nothing to hang their heads about after that effort.
Lakers head coach Marc LaRochelle said this is what he knows his team is capable of, and they showed it Sunday against the Rams.
“I am very proud of the effort put forth by the team today,” he said. “This was by far our most complete match we have played to date.”
The Lakers were slow out of the gates as the Rams took control of the first set and went on to win 25-20, despite a late push from the Lakers. But the next two sets belonged to the Lakers, who elevated their game to a level the Nipissing Gym hadn’t seen this season.
An exciting 27-25 win in set two pulled the Lakers even with the Rams, and a dominant win in set three had the Lakers in great shape to earn their first win of the season.
“Ryerson is a very good team and we gave them all they could handle,” he explained. “Our defence was exceptional today and mentally we were able to stay focussed and really battle point for point.”
In the fourth set, the Rams regained the momentum and earned a 25-18 win sending the match to a fifth and deciding set.
A quick start for the Rams had them in control and while the Lakers pushed back at the end, Ryerson held on for the victory. LaRochelle explained his team’s offence made the necessary adjustments throughout the match, and that’s exactly what he has been preaching all season long.
“Our hitters were able to adapt throughout the match and score more consistently,” the coach said.
The Lakers are off next weekend before getting back on the court Jan. 25 and 26 at home.