KINGSTON, Ont. (October 28, 2018) The No.10 Queen's Gaels defeated the Nipissing Lakers 5-1 to move on to the OUA semifinal. The Gaels ended the regular season scoreless in the final three games, however there was no sign of offensive struggles as Queen's scored with ease on Sunday afternoon.
 
 
GAME FLOW
Right off the opening kickoff Lakers had a scoring opportunity. After a Gaels' passing error, the Lakers' Madison Logan scooped up a loose ball and had a wide open chance at the net. However, she sent her shot off the left post which then corralled across the crease and hit the right post. Gaels' goaltender Alexa MacLatchey-Gaudet grabbed the ball before the Lakers could pounce on it as the Gaels escaped what would've been an early deficit.
 
In the 2nd minute, Jenny Wolever outran her defender and while being challenged sent a low shot past Lakers' goalkeeper Jess Moran. The ball deflected off the right post and in for the game's opening goal.
 
The early action continued as in the 8th minute, Alexandra Doane battled to control the ball in the box before feeding Jenny Wolever. She then wired the ball to the bottom right corner for her second goal of the opening ten minutes.
 
In the 11^th minute the Lakers responded. Tori Bellar was the recipient of a Gaels' defending error as she found a loose ball in the box and sent it past MacLatchey-Gaudet. The goal cut into the Gaels lead and made the game 2-1.
 
In the second half, the Gaels were the first team to strike as Jenny Wolever found the net for her third goal of the game in the 68^th minute.
 
Then, in the 78^th minute it was time for someone else on the Gaels squad to score as Frederique Poitras buried her shot in the top left corner. After scoring just one goal all season, Poitras made an immediate impact after subbing in during the second half.
 
Lastly, Alicia Levy converted on a penalty kick in the 89^th minute to cap off a five-goal game for the Gaels.
 
WOLEVER'S SECOND HAT TRICK
After being held scoreless in the final four games of the season, Wolever exploded for her second hat trick of the 2018 campaign. Her first hat trick came in the first game of the regular season against this Nipissing Lakers squad at Richardson Stadium. Nearly, two months later Wolever had a repeat performance willing her Gaels team to the OUA Final Four.
 
"She's had no shortage of chances, and also no shortage of attention she's been receiving from other teams. Sometimes she gets double or triple teamed so to get her on the scoreboard early was a big step for us today," said head coach Dave McDowell.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
11 – The Gaels were called for being offside 11 times indicating the number of chances they had throughout the game.
10 – Lakers' goalkeeper Jess Moran made 10 saves on Sunday as the Gaels peppered her with shots all afternoon.
8 – Eight shots on goal for Jenny Wolever who was terrorizing the Nipissing defence core.
 
FINAL SAY
"You think 5-1 win, I'm thinking we still have a lot left in the tank in terms of things we could've been better at. Good lesson for our young players on how you have to mentally prepare and as a team how prepared you have to be for these games," said head coach Dave McDowell. "It really is win or go home, so there's a lot of stress."
 
UP NEXT
The Gaels will take on the Western Mustangs in the OUA semifinal from London, Ont. With a win, the Gaels would clinch a berth into the OUA Championship final and the U SPORTS National Championship.
 
The official day and time of the OUA semifinal has yet to be determined.  Stay tuned into gogaelsgo.com and @queensgaels on Twitter for updates.