Third-period goals against were the difference as the Carleton Ravens women's hockey team dropped a pair of decisions over the weekend.
"We're struggling to close out games right now," explained head coach Stacey Colarosi. "The transition to the OUA is a process and having the confidence to own and finish leads needs to be better."
The process continues to go well early in contests. After being tied at two with #5 Nipissing last weekend, Carleton was tied with #7 Guelph through two periods on Friday before the Gryphons got the best of them. Four minutes into the third period Guelph's Sarah Callaghan found herself wide open in the slot and made no mistake beating Kaitlyn Langille for the lead.
The Gryphons would add another goal late in the period off a blocked shot which led to a breakaway and put the Ravens away. A penalty with the goalie out sealed the Ravens comeback. Langille had 35 saves for the Ravens in the losing effort.
On special teams, the Ravens were 0/2 on the powerplay but 3/3 on the penalty kill.
Carleton found themselves scoreless after twenty minutes again on Satuday afternoon before the Brock Badgers took the lead. Despite trailing, the young Ravens battled hard scoring twice in the frame. After a Badgers' defender deflected Anya Misner's wrist shot to tie the game Avery Krawchuk scored on a wrist shot from the point to take the lead late in the second.
The Ravens would hold the lead until Kaedyn Gomes tied the game midway through the third leading to overtime. After killing off a penalty that carried into overtime, the Ravens looked for a game-winner but couldn't beat Ava Cruikshank on three shots. Langille continued to be the Ravens store making nine saves in overtime to send the game to a shootout.
Unfortunately for the Ravens, the shootout didn't go their way with Madelyn Walsh and Madison Cronkwright scoring on back-to-back shots for the win.
"We're in every game, and that's encouraging," admitted Colarossi. "We hit some bars this weekend but need to finish on those chances moving forward." Carleton will have another chance to build momentum in the OUA East when they face divisional rivals Ontario Tech and Queen's for the first time in conference play this weekend.
