Toronto Sceptres ride early goals to 2-1 victory over Vancouver Goldeneyes

Laura Messier scored her first Professional Women’s Hockey League goal, lifting the Toronto Sceptres to a 2-1 victory over the Goldeneyes in Vancouver on Sunday.

Sara Hjalmarsson opened the scoring for Toronto at the 7:10 mark of the first period, collecting a pass from Claire Dalton and blasting a quick shot in from the low hash mark for her second goal of the season.

Messier doubled the lead 57 seconds later, with Dalton tallying her second assist of the afternoon.

After taking the early lead, Toronto's (6-1-3-8) focus appeared to turn to defence over the second and third periods, with the visitors blocking 20 shots across the game.

Lauren Messier's 1st PWHL goal lifts Sceptres over Goldeneyes

The Sceptres got 25 saves from Raygan Kirk as they won a second straight game. Toronto took a 5-2 road win over the Seattle Torrent on Friday.

The Goldeneyes (5-1-2-9) got on the board 9:07 into the third period Sunday when Izzy Daniel sent a one-timer through Kirk's legs for her fifth goal of the season.

Emerance Maschmeyer stopped 22 of the 24 shots she faced in the Vancouver net.

This was the Goldeneyes first game since Jan. 28 and they showed some rust early with turnovers that led to the two Sceptres' goals.

Vancouver pressed hard in the third but Kirk came up big, including 7:48 into the period when she dropped to the ice to stymie Sarah Nurse and reached back with her glove to ensure Vancouver's star forward couldn't poke a rebound into a crack between the netminder and her post.

The Goldeneyes continue a five-game homestand against the Boston Fleet on March 10, while the Sceptres return to Toronto to host the Montreal Victoire on Tuesday.