OTTAWA (Jan. 13, 2025) - It wasn't the dream start to 2025 the Carleton Ravens women's hockey team had hoped for - a pair of loses of the weekend and slid the Ravens into 7th in the OUA East, now three points behind TMU for the fifth and final playoff spot.
The Ravens had their chance to close the gap on TMU when they opened the second half of the OUA schedule on Friday against the Bold. Carleton came into the game nipping at the heels of the Bold for the final playoff spot in the OUA East.
TMU Started the game fast out of the gate, hemming the Ravens in their zone for the majority of the first 10 minutes of the game. Payton Kerr opened the scoring for TMU, beating Kaitlyn Langille on a breakaway just under 10 minutes into the period. After starting slow in the first, the Ravens had a stellar end to the period netting two goals from Vicky Kay and Olwen Jones. Jones's late goal was a stellar individual effort culminating with a powerful wrist shot that beat Alexis Stratos cleanly.
The second period saw the Ravens turn up the pressure, trying to extend their lead. Stellar saves Alexia Stratos saw the Bold stay in the game. Much like the first period, about halfway through the second period, there was a major momentum shift. Carleton suffered a couple of major defensive lapses and TMU’s forwards made no mistakes as Dayle Chinnick and Emily Baxter were able to fool Kaitlyn Langille and retake the lead going into the third.
The third period saw TMU as they shut the door on any potential Ravens chances and salted the final 20 minutes of the game away. An empty net goal from Payton Kerr, her second of the game ensured the Bold would remain inside the playoff picture with a 4-2 victory.
The Ravens looked to bounce back on Saturday but quickly found themselves behind. After a fortuitous bounce behind the net a rolling puck snuck between Kaitlyn Langille's feet making it 1-0. Trailing less than 90 seconds into the contest the Ravens upped the pressure and were rewarded midway through the period on the powerplay. Avery Krawchuk blasted her second of the year off the post and in past a screened Kayla Renaud to tie the game. The tie would hold the rest of regulation.
In the second, the Ravens looked to turn up the pressure, but instead found themselves shorthanded four times. Unable to find time five-on-five, Carleton was outshot 15-2 in the second period and relied on the steady play of Langille to keep the game 1-1. Two more trips to the penalty box early in the third saw Carleton get off to a slow start but they built momentum on the power play midway through the frame and carried it into overtime.
After killing off an Olwen Jones penalty in the the opening minutes of the extra frame, Carleton pushed the pace throughout the extra frame but both goalies stood to the task.
After Sydney Berta opened the scoring in the shootout for the Ravens Brianna Bowman scored in the third round to extend the contest and then scored again in the fourth round for the win. The Ravens are now 2-3 in shootouts and 4-4 in overtime games this season.
Carleton is back in action this weekend when they head on the road for a rematch with TMU before facing UofT at Varsity Arena.
