(PHOTO OF JULIA BAHEN BY ANDREW DOBROWOLSKYJ)

 

MONTREAL - Sophomore midfielder Julia Bahen of Vancouver, B.C., scored in the 65th minute as the No.4-ranked McGill Martlets salvaged a surprising 1-1 tie against sixth-place Concordia in women's soccer at Molson Stadium, Friday.

 

It was the third consecutive draw for the undefeated but struggling Martlets (8-0-5) who have five ties in their last eight matches. The result deprived McGill a chance of regaining first place in the QUSL standings. The Martlets trail the division-leading Montreal Carabins (9-1-3) by one point with just one game remaining before playoffs. Concordia, which has already been eliminated from post-season play, sits near the cellar in the eight-team league with a 2-9-2 record.

 

The Martlets had a 29-6 advantage in shots toward the net, including a 15-3 margin on target. McGill also held an 18-1 edge in crosses and a 9-1 difference in corner kicks.

 

Stingers netminder Andrea Davidson, a religious studies junior from Kitchener, Ont., provided some divine guidance, with a stellar 14-save performance. McGill 'keeper Victoria Muccilli, a freshman from Mississauga, was credited with two saves.

 

"Right now we are not playing well enough to win games," said a disappointed Marc Mounicot, head coach of the Martlets. "Concordia played very hard tonight but they stayed in their defensive zone most of the game. Tying top-notch teams like Laval and Montreal last week may have been acceptable but we should have beaten that team tonight."

 

The game was a rough affair featuring 30 fouls (18 to Concordia) and five yellow cards.

 

Concordia opened the scoring in the 13th minute of play when Kristina McGovern beat Muccilli on a well-placed shot from inside the box. The scoring play resulted after McGill defenders were unable to clear a corner kick by Sarah Sullivan of Port Moody, B.C.

 

Bahen netted the equalizer on a header in the second half when she converted a corner kick from freshman Selena Colarossi of Burlington, Ont.

 

"We lacked intensity and a sense of urgency in the first hour and paid the price for that," said Mounicot. "We had something like 20 crosses and 25 shots but lacked killer instinct around the net. If we want to finish first and get to the CIS championship, we need to show more quality in our play."

 

The Martlets will close out the regular season with a local game at fifth-place UQAM (4-6-3) Sunday night at 7 p.m. The division-leading Carabins (9-1-3), who are scoring a goal per game more than McGill, travel to third-place Sherbrooke (8-2-3) on Sunday afternoon, while Concordia will close out their campaign at UQTR (1-10-2).

 

"Finishing first is still possible," added Mounicot. "We have to stay positive and believe it can be done."

 

SCORING SUMMARY

McGill 1, Concordia 1

(at Molson stadium)

 

FIRST HALF:
1. Concordia: Kristina McGovern (Sarah Sullivan), 13:00

 

SECOND HALF:

2.McGill: Julia Bahen (Selena Colarossi), 65:00

GOALKEEPERS:

Concordia: Andrea Davidson (T, 1GA, 14 saves, 90:00)

McGill: Victoria Muccilli (T, 1GA, 2 saves, 90:00)

 

 

Shots Toward Net

McG 29 (15 off net, 15 on net)
Con 6, (3 off net, 3 on net)

Crosses

McGill 18
Conc 1

Fouls

McGill 12
Conc 18

Offsides by:

McGill 1
Concordia 1

Corners

McGill 9
Concordia 1

Cards

McGill: 2 yellows: Meghan Bourque (75:00), Melanie Desaulnieurs-Rioux (78:00)

Concordia: 3 yellows: Caroline Gilbert (37:00), Elizabeth Allard (55:00) and Catherine Lalonde (72:00)

 

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

Julia Bahen, McGill
Elizabeth Allard, Concordia

 

STARTING LINEUP FOR McGILL:

GK: Muccilli
DEF: Bahen
DEF: Bui
DEF: Burrows
DEF: Armstrong
MID: Keating
MID: Rivkin
MID: Bland-Lasso
MID: Morin-Boucher
MID: Bourque
FOR: Simmons

McGILL SUBSTITUTIONS:

Hooper for Bui 46:00
Wilson for Armstrong 46:00
Colarossi for Simmons 46:00
Avery for Bland-Lasso 46:00
Smith for Keating 57:00
Simmons for Rivkin 75:00

McGILL LINEUP SCRATCHES

Labbe (dressed but DNP)

Holdham-Kirby

Green (injured)

Bell (injured)

Cordileone (injured)

Wakeling (injured)

Rioux (injured)

 

Classement
Pos TEAM GP W L T GF GA +/- PTS 1 Montréal 13 9 1 3 45 8 37 30 2 McGill 13 8 0 5 32 9 23 29 3 Sherbrooke 13 8 2 3 28 12 16 27 4 Laval 13 7 2 4 32 17 15 25 5 UQAM 13 4 6 3 11 15 -4 15 6 Concordia 13 2 9 2 6 33 -27 8 7 Bishop's 13 1 10 2 7 36 -29 5 8 UQTR 13 1 10 2 6 37 -31 5
MJ - Matchs joués ; V - Victoires ; D - Défaites ; N - Nulles ; BP - Buts pour ; BC - Buts contre ; +/- - Différenciel ; PTS - Points ;