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Highlights courtesy SSN
Warriors' defenceman Ryan Molle's (Calgary, Alta.) first-ever goal in the CIS helped the Warriors overcome their cross-town rivals from Laurier for the third time this season. Molle also added an assist in the 3-2 victory, the second victory by that score in as many days for the rebounding Warriors.
The CIF arena was packed this Saturday night as the Warriors hosted the first of a series of five targeted events for their “Ultimate Warrior Showdown.” The fans were treated to an excellent opening pace with both teams trying to control the flow of the game.
Tensions ran high as the two teams have met twice before this season, with both games incredibly close. After Warriors forward Kyle Schwende (Kitchener, Ont.) was rubbed out in the boards by defenceman Mike Gauthier while chasing a puck in the Laurier end, he took exception to the check and the ensuing shoving match resulted in both players drawing roughing minors, with Schwende taking the instigator as well.
On the ensuing powerplay, a wraparound attempt generated a rebound that Ryan Bellows poked by Waterloo's starting goalie Keaton Hartigan (Kitchener, Ont.), giving Laurier the 1-0 lead. The Warriors would get the goal back on a powerplay of their own very late in the period. Warrior Andy Smith (Rosetown/) fired a slapshot from the point that gave a juicy rebound for Molle to clean up.
Midway through the second period, Laurier would take their second lead of the game after drawing a full two minutes of 5-on-3 action. Despite strong penalty killing by team captain Chris Ray (Kelowna, B.C.) and Thomas Cardiff (London, Ont.), a harmless looking shot from Belle finds twine in the dying seconds of the penalties to put the Golden Hawks up by one.
With less than two minutes left in the second frame the Warriors tied the game after a Steve Whitely (Petrolia, Ont.) slapshot was cleaned up by Thomas Cardiff (London, Ont.) notching his first goal of the season. Less than a minute later Warrior forward Tyler Moir (Calgary, Alta.) rushed down the wing and fired a shot that Laurier keeper Ryan Daniels stopped but gave up a big rebound that Moir picked up and snapped the shot over the shoulder of a sprawling Daniels.
With sound defence and key saves by Hartigan, the Warriors would hang on to the 3-2 lead, to take the third edition of the battle of Waterloo. Hartigan made 32 saves in the win while the busier of the two, Daniels stopped 43 of 46 shots.
The win puts Waterloo just a point back of third-place Lakehead and two behind Laurier in the West. They will take on the UOIT Ridgebacks again next Friday night at the CIF before traveling to Windsor to face the Lancers.
