With the Nipissing Lakers women's hockey team on the verge of a first round sweep, they hit their home ice at Memorial Gardens Friday night.

After a 5-2 win Wednesday in Kingston over the Queen's Gaels, the Lakers were a win away from advancing to Round 2 of the OUA Playoffs – the first team to do so.

The Lakers cashed in on their opportunity to move on, sneaking out a 2-1 victory to sweep the series, 2-0.

The Lakers wasted very little time hitting the scoreboard as they went up 1-0 just a minute and a half into the contest.

After some strong puck movement, Tessa Kosec fired a shot through traffic that found the back of the net, making it 1-0.

Payton Gabruck and Megan Hayhurst drew the assists on the early tally.

Four minutes into the period, Nipissing went up 2-0 after an odd bounce ended up in the back of the Gaels net.

Malory Dominico got credit as the Lakers doubled their lead.

The Gaels got back in the game with 3:51 to go in the period, as they scored a power play goal to cut the Lakers lead in half.

Despite the late Gaels goal, the Lakers took a 2-1 lead into the intermission and led 10-5 in the shot department, as well.

The second was another well-played period with both teams generating chances, but there was nothing in the way of offence as the teams headed to the dressing room separated by a goal.

Shots favoured the Gael's 14-13 after two periods of play.

A tightly contested third period saw most of the play in the neutral zone as neither team was allowing much.

The Lakers locked things down to close out the game and grab the win.

Chantelle Sandquist was solid in net, making 22 saves for the win.

Nipissing will now face Waterloo in Round 2 of the OUA Playoffs, with Game 1 set for Wednesday on the road.