The Nepean Wildcats weathered an early storm and capitalized on key moments to secure a 4-2 win over the London Devilettes in a spirited U22 Elite contest. London came out firing in the first period, outshooting the Wildcats 13-7, but Nepean's goaltender Serra Yildir was a fortress, turning aside every opportunity to keep the game scoreless. The Wildcats found their footing in the second, and the momentum truly shifted when Sydney Semiga scored a crucial shorthanded goal at the 16:57 mark, giving Nepean a lead they would never relinquish. Kylie Hollingsworth extended the advantage with an even-strength tally, assisted by Brooke Brewer, before Jordan Mulvihill netted what would stand as the game-winner late in the period. London's Colbie Farr managed to answer just 24 seconds later, assisted by Jayda Houben, to cut the deficit to 3-1 heading into the final frame.
The third period saw both teams trade goals in a frantic push. Nepean's Mallea McMullin restored the three-goal cushion early, converting assists from Breanna Bray and Nuala Gibbs. London refused to go quietly, however, as Emma Bovin scored midway through the period, with Leah Milligan getting the helper, to bring the Devilettes back within two at 4-2. The game's intensity boiled over in the final minutes, resulting in a flurry of penalties, including a slashing call on London's Ella McCallum with just over a minute to play, effectively halting any comeback attempt. Despite a desperate 16-shot barrage from London in the third, Yildir stood tall, finishing with an impressive 52 saves on 54 shots to backstop the Wildcats to victory.
Ultimately, the story of the game was Nepean's resilience and opportunistic scoring. While London held a significant 34-31 edge in total shots, the Wildcats made their chances count, particularly during a dominant second period where they outshot the Devilettes 14-5 and scored three times. Goaltending was the decisive factor, with Nepean's Serra Yildir delivering a standout performance to earn the win, while London's Ella Gracey faced a tough night in net. The Wildcats' ability to score a shorthanded goal and their timely response to London's pushes proved to be the difference in a hard-fought battle.
Mississauga Hurricanes #5875