Friday night didn't go the way the Nipissing Lakers women's hockey team wanted, as they returned to home ice.

After suffering three straight road losses, Nipissing was hoping for some homecooking, but came up short, losing 3-1 to the visiting Western Mustangs.

Nipissing has now dropped four in a row, scoring just once in each of the four games.

Western opened the scoring just before the midway point of the opening period, but it didn't take long for the Lakers to reply.

Kaitlyn McManus evened the game with time running out in the period.

She was able to put the puck past the Mustangs goalie with just over a minute remaining in the first, with Maria Dominico and Sam Strassburger picking up the helpers.

Unfortuntely that was the last offence Nipissing would see.

Western scored twice in the second period and sealed the win in the third to escape North Bay with a victory.

Danika Ranger finished the game with 20 saves, while the Lakers fired 25 shots at the Mustangs net.

Nipissing is back at it on Saturday night, when they host the Windsor Lancers at 4:30pm.