A loss to one longtime OUA powerhouse might have ruined the home opener for the Waterloo Warriors women's hockey team, but a victory over another longtime OUA powerhouse has the black and gold off to a solid start in 2016-17.

The Warriors rebounded from a 2-0 loss to the Toronto Varsity Blues on Friday night to take a 3-2 overtime decision from the crosstown rival Laurier Golden Hawks on Saturday, splitting their opening weekend of regular season action.

Against Laurier on Saturday, Angela MacDonald (Kitchener) scored twice, including the OT winner on the power play, to lift the Warriors to their first victory of the year. Marissa Redmond (Ajax) added a goal and an assist, while Taylor Reimer (Morden) made 20 stops for her first career CIS victory in goal.

Jessica Prevette notched a goal and an assist for the host Hawks, but it was her checking from behind penalty in the extra session that led to Waterloo's game-winning goal. The winning goal capped a huge night for the Warriors power play unit, as they went 3-for-9 on the power play.

The win was a much needed rebound for the Warriors after a shutout loss in their home opener a night before. The stingy Toronto Varsity Blues limited Waterloo's high-quality chances, and goaltender Valencia Yordanov was sensational when called upon as the Warriors went down in defeat 2-0.

Stephanie Sluys (Clinton) took the loss in net for the Warriors, making 31 saves in defeat. Jessica Robichaud cashed on a rebound in the first period for the Blues, while Taylor Day scored on a beautiful top-shelf wrister in the third period to put the game out of reach.

The Warriors will now look for their first home victory of the season when they welcome a pair of teams to the Columbia Ice Field Arena next weekend. First, the UOIT Ridgebacks are in town on Friday night at 7:30pm, before the Queen's Gaels visit on Saturday night at 7:30pm.