MONTREAL -- Joelle Gosselin snapped a deadlock in the 71st minute of play as the division-leading Laval Rouge et Or squeaked past McGill 2-1 in women's university soccer action at Percival Molson Stadium, Friday.

The first two goals of the game both came from penalty shots as a result of disputed hand balls. Laval's Melissande Guy connected on her PK shot in just the seventh minute of play. Six minutes later, McGill midfielder Alexandra Tinfow, a biology sophomore from Westfield, N.J., returned the favour by connecting on her PK, kicking the ball low to the left corner, past the outstretched arms of goaltender Marie-Joelle Vandal, who was credited with one save for the win.

"We started off all right but that surprise penalty shot threw us off for a bit," said McGill head coach Jose-Luis Valdes. "Nevertheless, we fought hard and created a penalty shot of our own to tie into going into halftime. In the second half... we gained the momentum and had a good number of threatening counter-attacks but weren't able to capitalize on our chances. We've played two great second halves against that team and know that we can beat them in the playoffs if we play a full game."

One of those missed opportunities came off the foot of forward Rebecca Green, who sprinted down the right side and fired a crossing shot from a sharp angle that appeared to fool the Laval goalie who got a piece of it and deflected it off the cross-bar.

McGill 'keeper Elissa McCarron filled in for starter Cassandra Fafalios -- who suffered a leg injury during Thursday's practice -- and made six saves in a losing cause.

McGill (3-4-2) dropped to fifth place, one point behind Concordia (3-3-3), which currently sits in the final playoff berth in the RSEQ conference standings. Four games remain before post-season play. The Martlets will travel to second-place Sherbrooke (6-2-1) on Sunday at 1 p.m. Other remaining games on their schedule are vs. Montreal (Oct. 19), at UQTR (Oct. 24) and at UQAM (Oct. 26).

Laval (8-1-0) plays at UQTR (2-5-2) on Sunday.


RSEQ STANDINGS (updated after Friday's games)

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