In their first matchup since last year's playoffs, the Nipissing Lakers were looking for a little revenge against the Western Mustangs.

The Mustangs eliminated the Lakers in the first round after two tight, well-played contests. The Mustangs eventually went on to win the CIS Championships.

While this was a regular season game, it had the intensity of a post-season battle as both teams came out ready to play, with the Lakers picking up the 1-0 victory thanks to Jackie Rochefort's 23-save performance.

The Lakers came in riding a four game point streak, going 3-0-1 in their past four, while the Mustangs were coming off a shutout loss to Toronto last weekend.

After a scoreless first, where the Lakers dominated for the majority, Nipissing opened up the scoring midway through the second period thanks to a goal by Jade Gauthier, who picked up a rebound and made a nice move around Mustangs goalie Kelly Campbell.

Stacey Henshaw drew the lone assist on the game's opening goal.

The teams traded chances the rest of the period, but neither could find the back of the net and the Lakers took a 1-0 lead into the second intermission.

Nipissing held a slight edge in shots, 19-17.

In the third, the physical play continued as the teams continue to trade chances and while the Mustangs had the better of the chances, the Lakers defence locked things down and Rochefort continued her stellar play, turning aside any pucks that got through to the net.

Rochefort made 23 saves in total, while the Lakers fired 22 at the Western net.

Nipissing is now 4-0-1 in their last four and has propelled themselves near the top of the OUA standings.

They will try to keep things rolling when they host the Windsor Lancers Saturday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. at Memorial Gardens.