Queen's Women's Hockey dropped their season opener to the Nipissing Lakers 2-1 at the Memorial Centre Friday.

The Gaels opened the scoring in the first period and held a 1-0 lead heading into the final frame before Nipissing tied the game on the power play with eight minutes left and scored the winner two minutes later.

Sophie Hudson (Maple, Ont.) scored for Queen's on a goal assisted by Alyson Reeves (Toronto, Ont.) and Quinn Johnston (Toronto, Ont.).

Brianna Gaffney netted both goals for the Lakers. 

Mackenzy Arsenault (Whitby, Ont.) faced 30 shots in Queen's net, turning aside 28 pucks for a .933 save percentage. The Gaels had 24 shots on net, with Lakers goalie Chantelle Sandquist making 23 saves.

Queen's and Nipissing meet again in the back half of their season-opening doubleheader Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Memorial Centre.