The Nipissing Lakers women's hockey team started their quest for the McCaw Cup in style last night in Kingston.

The Lakers defeated the Queens Gaels 4-1 in Game 1 of their quarter-final, best-of-3 series and can wrap up the first round Friday night on home ice.

Led by Maria Dominico's two goals, the Lakers cruised to the road victory and sets them up to sweep the Gaels on the weekend.

The lone goal of the first period came from Malory Dominico, scoring her first OUA playoff goal early in the period.

Britney Zack and Maggie McKee earned assists on the game's opening goal.

The teams combined for three goals in the second, with the Gaels tying things up at the 3:18 mark before the Lakers scored twice to regain the lead.

With the game tied 1-1, Maria Dominico gave Nipissing the lead once again, scoring just after the midway point of the period.

Malory Dominico grabbed her second point with an assist and Katelyn Heppner earned the first of her three assists on the goal.

With less than four minutes left in the period, Maria buried her second of the game, this time on the power play to put Nipissing up by two.

Brianna Gaffney and Heppner picked up helpers on the insurance goal.

Gaffney would complete her multi-point game with a goal late in the third to seal the win.

Stacey Henshaw and Heppner set up Gaffney's goal.

A total of four Lakers had multi-point games, with Maria Dominico finishing with a pair of goals, Malory Dominico and Gaffney each recording a goal and an assist and Heppner grabbing three helpers.

Danika Ranger finished with 22 saves in the win, while Nipissing had 25 shots of their own.

Game 2 is set for Friday night at Memorial Gardens.

If necessary, Game 3 would for Saturday night.

Puck drop for both games is 7:30pm.