SHERBROOKE, Que. – Kayla LeTouzel (L'Orignal, Ont./St. Mary's) netted a first period hat trick to lead the Bishop's Gaiters women's hockey team to a 6-4 victory over Northeastern on Saturday afternoon at the Jane and Eric Molson Arena on the Bishop's University campus. It was the first official American Club Hockey Association (ACHA) game in Lennoxville.
 

 
In front of over 300 boisterous Gaiter fans, Bishop's got off to a roaring start.  LeTouzel tallied he first, a shorthanded goal at the 2:33 mark of the first period. That opened the floodgates for the hosts.  Lauren MacCulloch (Toronto, Ont. ) picked up the puck behind the Gaiters net, went end-to-end, and finished the individual effort for Bishop's second goal of the day five minutes later. LeTouzel scored her second and third tallies at the 12:12 and 18:08 marks respectively to give Bishop's a 4-0 lead after the first period.
 

 
Northeastern shook off their bus legs and got on the board at the 4:16 mark of the second period when Estelle Ip scored, but Bishop's answered less than five minutes later on the power play when local product and newcomer Jessica Belanger (Sherbrooke) scored her first in purple. Caroline Buckley gave Northeastern a heartbeat and cut the deficit to 5-2 with the team's second goal midway through the frame.
 

 
Jessica Briere (Sherbrooke, Que. ) returned the momentum to the Gaiters side when she score Bishop's sixth goal of the game just over five minutes into the final stanza. A late Northeastern push was not enough as Kayla Anderson and Paige Stathopolous scored but the visitors did not get closer and the game ended 6-4 for Bishop's.
 
Veronica Todd (Cumberland, Maine) picked up the win between the pipes.  She made 22 saves for the Gaiters while Erika Dudek stopped 27 shots for the loss.
 

 
The win moves Bishop's to 4-1 on the year and Northeastern falls to 5-3.
 
The two teams will play again on Sunday at 11 a.m. once again in the Jane and Eric Molson arena.
 
Stay up-to-date with the Bishop's Gaiters anytime at www.gaiters.ca or on social media using @BishopsGaiters and #GaiterNation
 
-30-