By Reece Bastien — Contributor

This past weekend your Gaiters women’s hockey team went into their games with the opportunity to clinch a playoff berth. With games against Carleton on Friday and Concordia on Sunday, they set forward with their goal in mind.

The team started the weekend with a bus ride to Ottawa where they took on the Carleton Ravens. The game was highly anticipated since Carleton and Bishop’s were both battling for the final playoff spot. As the puck dropped to start the first period, BU came out prepared to execute their plan in sealing the Ravens’ fate and sending them to an early off-season. When the final horn blew to end the game the Gaiters found themselves victorious with a 4-1 win over Carleton. Notable standouts in the playoff-clinching win include an impressive four-point night for Neleh Vigneau Sargeant including two goals, as well as two goals and an assist from Maude Pépin. Goaltender Aglaé René de Cotret only let in one goal on the 25 shots she faced, giving her a .960 save percentage on the night.

Following their big win against Carleton, the women were back playing at the Jane & Eric Molson Arena against Concordia on Sunday. They looked to continue their success from two nights prior and came out strong, but they sadly ended up falling a goal short with a 3-2 loss on home ice. Aglaé René de Cotret once again got the nod between the pipes allowing 3 goals on 24 shots for an .875 save percentage. The Gaiters’ goals were scored by second year Jamie Aspropotamitis and Neleh Vigneau Sargeant, with four other Gaiters picking up assists in the game. 

Following that weekend, the Bishop’s Gaiters now stand at 10-8-3 on the year. With a playoff spot guaranteeing four games remaining in the season, the Gaiters have a chance to improve on what they have going for them without having to stress about another team nipping on their heels and trying to take their spot. To round out the season, the team will face McGill and Université de Montréal once each respectively with a double header against the University of Ottawa before playoffs.