North Bay, Ontario – Nipissing Lakers Women's Hockey picked up a dramatic 4-3 overtime win at home on Wednesday evening in the team's 2026-27 season opening game against the Carleton Ravens.
 
In the first period, it was Lakers captain Abby Lunney getting Nipissing on the board first, scoring her first of the year at 2:44.
 
Carleton would answer with a tying goal at 8:17 of the period. However, the Lakers responded quickly as Ella Vande Sompel scored a power play goal at 10:36 to put the Lakers up 2-1. The one-goal lead would hold through 20 minutes of play for Nipissing.
 
The second period saw just one goal scored by either side, as Carleton tied the game at 2:35.  Through forty minutes of play, the score was 2-2.
 
Carleton took their first lead of the night at 5:29 of the third period, 3-2. The Lakers battled hard to regroup and find a way to tie the game for the majority of the period, and finally at 18:47 it was Lauren Dabrowski scoring her first of the season that tied the game at three in dramatic fashion.
 
The score remained knotted at three after the 3^rd period's final buzzer and overtime was necessary to declare a winner in the contest.
 
In OT, both sides traded opportunities early in the frame from end to end. Then, at 3:28, it was Lakers captain Abby Lunney who sent Nipissing's fans home happy as she scored her second of the game to give her team a 4-3 victory.
 
Nipissing goalie Allie Lehmann recorded 18 saves in the win.
 
The Lakers went 1/2 in powerplay opportunities, while Carleton was 0/4.
 
A successful opening game for the Lakers, who are back in action on Friday, October 16^th at 7:00PM when the Windsor Lancers are the opponents at Boart Longyear Memorial Gardens.
 
Tickets are available at the door or follow the game live on OUA.tv.