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The team‘s played almost three periods of scoreless hockey, exchanging chances at both ends with the Warriors best opportuniâ€" ties coming during a twoâ€"man advantage midâ€"way through the While both teams defended their home ice well, with the Warâ€" riors opening the series with a 5â€"0 win at the Columbia Ice Field before the Hawks responded with a 3â€"1 win at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex, neither side wanted to blink in Sunday night‘s wrapâ€"up game at UW. fter exchanging homeâ€"ice A;ficmries. it came down to a uddenâ€"death finale in game three to decide the opening round playoff series between the Universiâ€" ty of Waterloo Warriors and the Wilâ€" frid Laurier Golden Hawks. â€" : 8 : id htvadii hnb bdibl s Abidh e mitvadcindit hedc l t in td id olfi ul e . t c mb ltA BB cA 0 s 00 h n c d * t ceA i â€" i"" ommc aay . She whittled her options down _ ga while being a member of the defending Big East conference women‘s champs from last year. There‘s an opportunity for me to 15 and then five, but the final messoto _ to stay connected to Canada," decision was a tough one. ’ Buttinger said. Buttinger was attractive to proâ€" ed athleticism, said Notre Dame veteran who yhas coached "She‘s a very good multiâ€"event She hopes someday to compete grams because of her wellâ€"roundâ€" _ track coach Joe Piane, a 33â€"year â€" Olympians. athlete," Piane said. "We‘re not Continued on page 28 © ® @ & & Golden Hawks win lastâ€"minute thriller against Warriors The Resurrection secondary school student was courted by almost 50 universities, including interest from schools like the Uniâ€" versity of Southern California. Buttinger is a national champiâ€" on in various track events and recently broke provincial records at the Cornell University Invitaâ€" tional Track Meet in New York City. Schools across the continent were clamouring for her talent, making for an exciting but stressful few months, Buttinger said. aterloo‘s Maddie WBuninger has jumped another hurdle in her already distinguished track career. The local highâ€"school student has signedâ€"a letter of intent to attend Notre Dame University next fall. "I‘ve achieved another goal and it‘s really exciting," said Buttinger, who had hoped to compete at a varsity level. "It feels good now that I‘ve made a decision. It‘s been a long process," said Buttinger, who will receive a full scholarship from Notre Dame, which won the Big East women‘s outdoor track title last year. Buttinger gets kissed by the Irish at Notre Dame By GreG MacDonaLp Chronicle Staff By Bos VrBaNAC Chronicle Staff The Golden Hawks‘ Craig Voakes tries to get a puck on the Warriors‘ Jimmy Bernier during Sunday night‘s series final. The Hawks went on to win the contest 1â€"0, with Riley Mohrer scoring with 39 seconds left. Bos vrsanac roto third while the Hawks were stymied _ contested breakaway attempts. would be the story of the contest at the other end on a number of It looked like the goaltenders _ with Laurier‘s Jeff MacDougald Waterloo‘s Maddie Buttinger has accepted a full scholarship to Notre Dame University next fall to continue her recordâ€"breaking track and field career. The Resurrection student will continue her dream of competing for Canaâ€" da while being a member of the defending Big East conference women‘s champs from last year. SPORTS WATERLOO CHRONICLE + Wednesday, February 20, 2008 + 25 The Warriors pulled Bernier in the final 30 seconds but never got a good chance to equalize as the Hawks eliminated their crossâ€"town rivals from the OUA playoffs for the third straight year. Moher, whose previous claim to fame was as one of the amateur players trying to land a pro deal on CBC‘s Making the Cut during the last NHL hockey lockout, said although that dream didn‘t work playing his best game of the series after struggling in the openers, and the Warriors‘ rookie sensation Jimmy Bernier looking for his secâ€" ond shutout in the series. But with the game headed to overtime, Laurier‘s Riley Moher took the puck at the blueâ€"line on an odd man break, and the fifthâ€"year defenceman buried it over the shoulder of Bernier. The final factor was that Notre Dame track coach Piane and his staff were willing to work U of T trainers to keep Buttinger in shape during the offâ€"season. The Waterloo native was torn between staying close to home and attending University of Toronto, where she currently trains, or going to compete with Notre Dame in the Big East. The second was Notre Dame‘s size. Buttinger looked at larger schools, but thought she could stand out better with the Fighting Irish since Notre Dame‘s student population is only about 8,000. "I think I can make more of a mark for myself there," said Buttinger, who plans to study busiâ€" ness. The decision came down to three factors, Buttinger said. The first was that Notre Dame offefed her a full athletic scholarship, which isn‘t done in Canada. looking for singleâ€"event competiâ€" tors, we‘re looking for good athâ€" letes." Piane and his staff used their success at the Big East Conference track championships in 2007 to woo Buttinger. But she didn‘t immediately agree to attend the South Bend, Ind., school. Continued on page 27