Box Score If Stephanie Digness (Aldergrove/) were to script her first regular season game in a Warriors uniform it probably would have been as simple as a Waterloo win on home ice.  But the first year rookie from Aldergrove, B.C. would take it several steps further, scoring three goals including the overtime winner to lift Waterloo to their first win of the season in dramatic fashion.

Digness took a perfect feed from second year forward Marissa Redmond (Ajax/) and slid it between the legs of Ingrid Sandven to give the Warriors a 4-3 come from behind overtime victory in their home opener.  Sandven allowed four goals on 28 shots while Rebecca Bouwhuis (Orillia/) shook off some early game jitters and came up big down the stretch with her 36 saves in the win.

Another Warrior rookie also put together an impressive 60 minutes in her debut as local talent Rachel Marriott (Waterloo/) had three assists for the black and gold including a helper on the winning goal.

It was the Lancers who took an early two goal advantage to silence the home crowd.  Andrea Benac opened the scoring only 2:55 into the game before Candice Chevalier batted home her first of the season on a juicy rebound to put Windsor up 2-0. 

The Warriors would however find their legs midway through the opening frame and Digness would tally Waterloo's first goal of the season on the powerplay.  The first year arts student came out into the open slot and wired it off the post and in past Sandven to send Waterloo down only one into the first intermission.

The Lancers would regain their two goal advantage eight minutes into the second period with Jillian Rops finding the back of the net.  Windsor would continue to pour the pressure on putting 11 shots on target but Bouwhuis would keep the Warriors within striking distance, down only two going into the final frame.

Determined to fight their way back, it would be Carolyn Burke (Mississauga/) who would provide the spark tipping in a Bailey Bradt (Ilderton/) point shot to cut into the Lancer lead.  Only 1:06 later Waterloo would even the game as Digness wired a point shot that eluded Sandven for her second of the game.

Tied 3-all Windsor would again tilt the momentum in their favour with several quality changes around the net, the best coming off the stick of Candice Kourounis but Bouwhuis would squeeze the legs sending the game to overtime.

Twenty-four seconds into the extra period Digness emerged as the hero potting her third goal of the game for the hat trick on a nice setup by Redmond to give Waterloo the 4-3 overtime victory.

"We didn't get the start we wanted but we stuck to the game plan and came away with a big two points," mentioned head coach Shaun Reagan.  "Stephanie had a stellar game for us getting pucks to the net; what a way for her to start her career as a Warrior."

Waterloo will waste little time before hitting the ice again as they host the Western Mustangs tomorrow at the CIF arena.  Puck drop is set for 2:30pm.