Claire Merrick scored at 5:07 of the first overtime to lift the University of Guelph Gryphon women to a 2-1 win over the Laurentian Voyageurs in the opening game of the OUA playoffs Wednesday in Sudbury.
Laurentian led 1-0 after the first period on a power play goal by Emma Leger.
After a scoreless second frame, Christine Grant tied it at 3:45 of the third period.
Valerie Lamenta made 26 saves in the Guelph net to earn the win.
Game 2 in the best-of-three series goes Saturday at the Gryphon Centre at 2 p.m. Game 3, if necessary, will go Sunday, also at the Gryphon Centre at 2 p.m.
