Box Score Looking for the series sweep, the Nipissing Lakers women's hockey team entertained the Queen's Gaels for Game 2 of their first round series Friday night in Powassan.

The Lakers picked up a 3-1 win Wednesday in Kingston and were on the verge of advancing to Round 2 of the OUA McCaw Cup Playoffs.

Nipissing made no mistake in the second game of the best-of-three series, defeating the Gaels 5-3 to move on to the second round, where they await their opponent.

In the opening period, the Lakers had early chances, but also were forced to kill off a 5-on-3 penalty kill before the midway point of the period.

The first ended with the teams tied 0-0, with Nipissing leading in the shot department, up 10-8.

In the middle frame, the Lakers struck first.

Ashley Taciuk scored on her own rebound after a centering pass from Maria Dominico.

The goal came less than five minutes into the period.

Nipissing doubled their lead with 12:01 left in the second.

Emma Neff fired home a great pass from Madison Desmarais and made no mistake, putting the Lakers up 2-0.

Maddison Stitt added the other assist in the second Lakers goal.

Three minutes after Nipissing went up 2-0, Emma Thomas picked up her second point of the night, scoring on a strong individual effort to make it a three goal lead for the Lakers.

The Gaels found their way on the board late in the second, finding the back of the net with 2:52 left in the period to cut into the Nipissing lead.

After 40 minutes, the Lakers held a 3-1 lead and were outshooting Queen's 24-16.

It took just over half the period, but the Gaels managed to once again cut into the Lakers lead, scoring a power play goal with 9:23 left in the third.

The Lakers answered less than a minute later, as Maria Dominico snapped home a shot to regain Nipissing's two goal lead.

The goal, assisted by Kara Den Hoed and Madison Laberge, came with 8:43 to go.

The teams traded late goals, as Maggie McKee scored into the empty net for the Lakers, all but sealing the game, but to their credit, the Gaels didn't quit.

Just 38 seconds after Malory Dominico setup McKee for the empty-netter, Queen's snapped one home to close the gap.

The third Gaels goal was too little, too late as Nipissing picked up the two goal win and series win to move on.

Chantelle Sandquist was back between the pipes after making 31 saves in the Game 1 victory and stopped 24 Gaels shots for her second win of the series.

Nipissing will face Waterloo or Brock in Round 2, which set to begin Wednesday.