With 11 games left on the schedule, there is still a lot of work to be done, but the Nipissing Lakers women's hockey team is sitting in a good position.

After starting the season 0-2-1, the Lakers earned seven win in their next 10 games, going 7-1-2 in that time, putting them in sixth place in the OUA with 23 points – just six out of first spot, currently held by the Guelph Gryphons.

Nipissing did themselves a huge favour at the end of the first semester of play, defeating both Toronto and Ryerson – gaining ground on Toronto and widening an already large gap on Ryerson.

They will now face the same two teams to kick off 2016, with a pair of games on home ice this weekend.

The Lakers will welcome Toronto to town for Friday night's game and with a regulation win, the Lakers would jump Toronto and possibly find themselves as high as third place.

As the Lakers will be entering the game on a hot streak – if they can carry it over from last semester – Toronto is trending in the opposite direction, having lost four of its last five games, although three losses came in extra time.

After starting the season with seven straight wins, the Varsity blues went just 1-1-2 to close out the semester, but their hot start had them near the top of the league, so they sit in fourth place.

Nipissing's second opponent this weekend, Ryerson, has struggled this season, sitting in last place with just four points on the season.

Ryerson sits with a 1-9-1 record, with their lone win coming against Brock at the end of October.

With just 10 goals scored in 11 games, Ryerson has failed to threaten offensively and have been shut-out five times, including the first semester finale to the Lakers.

Defensively, Ryerson hasn't been too bad, so while the teams are heading in different directions, Nipissing can't look past Ryerson, who may not make the playoffs, but can affect the playoff picture in a big way.

Focussing on the Lakers, in their third year of play; it truly has been a total team effort in all their wins, the Lakers have been extremely impressive defensively, allowing just 20 goals through 13 games.

Nipissing goalie Jackie Rochefort has been almost unbeatable, recording five shutouts through seven wins and allowing just 14 goals in over 700 minutes of playing time.

She ranks fourth in both goals against average (1.15) and save percentage (.958) and is third in total saves (322).

Offensively, the Lakers haven't worn out the red light, but have scored at key times and in clutch situations.

They currently have 13 players with at least one goal, led by Brooklyn Irwin, Sam Strassburger and Kaley Tienhaara, who all have three.

Tienhaara leads the team with seven points, followed by Carly Marchment with six and Strassburger with five.

The balanced scoring and strong transition play will go a long way down the stretch as the Lakers look to continue their climb up the OUA standings.

Nipissing will get back on the ice this weekend with a pair of home games before they hit the road for four straight contests.

Friday's game versus the Varsity Blues is schedule for 7 p.m. at Memorial Gardens, while the Lakers will face the Ryerson Rams Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Gardens.
 
A Look Ahead – JANUARY

Fri. 8      vs. Toronto (8-1-3)          Memorial Gardens                                                   7 PM     
Sat. 9     vs. Ryerson (1-9-1)          Memorial Gardens                                                   4 PM     
Sat. 16   at Laurier (6-4-1)               Sun Life Arena, Waterloo Rec. Complex                      7:30 PM               
Sun. 17 at Waterloo (8-4-1)             Columbia Ice Field                                                     2:30 PM               
Fri. 22    at Windsor (3-8-1)             South Windsor Arena                                                 7:30 PM               
Sat. 23   at Western (9-4-0)            Thompson Arena                                                        7 PM