STE. ANNE DE BELLEVUE, Que. -- Anne-Marie Boulanger-Martel scored a pair of tries as visiting Laval defeated the McGill University women's rugby team 29-12 in the 2015 RSEQ season opener at McEwen Field on Labour Day Monday.
 
McGill, which finished fourth in the eight-team Quebec conference last year with a 4-3 record, field a young lineup that played a lot of tough defence for the first 20 minutes. But a veteran Laval squad, which finished second in the 2014 season with a 6-1 record, finally broke the ice in the 22^nd minute of play with an unconverted try. The Rouge et Or penetrated through McGill's wall in a wild second half and outscored the Martlets 24-12.
 
Erica Saabas, a physical education senior from Hamilton, Ont., and senior Bianca Della Porta of Dorval, Que., each scored tries for the Martlets. Fifth-year veteran Caroline Suchorski of Kirkland, Que.,converted one of them.
 
Also tallying tries for Laval was Laurie Houle, Camille Provencal-Aube and Laurence Laberge-Plante. Rounding out the scoring was Anne-Charlotte Beaulieu, who went 2-for-5 on her conversion attempts.
 
One of the bright spots in a tough loss for McGill was that senior Deanna Foster looked to be in form after missing the entire 2014 campaign with a serious knee injury suffered in training camp with the Canadian national team last August. The speedy senior from Caledon, Ont., registered a few long runs but was stopped on each occasion by try-saving tackles.
 
Another positive for McGill was the kicking of Montrealer Kayley Walsh, a physical therapy senior who took advantage of the wind and kicked the ball downfield numerous times to relieve pressure.
 
Laval (1-0) will host Ottawa (1-0), the defending league champions, on Sept. 12. The Martlets (0-1) will try to even their record next weekend when they travel to Sherbrooke (1-1) on Sunday, Sept. 13 for a 12:30 p.m. kickoff.
 
SCORING SUMMARY
Laval 29, McGill 12
 
FIRST HALF:
1.Laval, TRY by Laurie Houle (conversion missed by Anne-Charlotte Beaulieu), 22:00
 
SECOND HALF:
2.Laval, TRY by Anne-Marie Boulanger-Martel (conversion missed by A. C. Beaulieu), 3:00
3.McGill, TRY by Erica Saabas (conversion by Caroline Suchorski), 9:00  
4.Laval, TRY by Anne-Marie Boulanger-Martel (converted by A. C. Beaulieu), 14:00
5.McGill, TRY by Bianca Della Porta (conversion missed by Suchorski), 22:00
6.Laval, TRY by Camille Provencal-Aube (conversion missed by A. C. Beaulieu), 32:00
7.Laval, TRY by Laurence Laberge-Plante (conversion made by A. C. Beaulieu), 40:00
 
McGill's 25-member Dress Roster vs Laval:
 
1) Audrey Marcotte
2) *Morgan Konz
3) Victoria Heseltine
4) Kelly Phelan
5) Emily Challice
6) Hsiang Chou
7) Katrine Lightstone
8) Erica Saabas
9) Cassandra Walmsley
10) Kayley Walsh
11) Deanna Foster
12) Carla Massaro
13) Bianca Della Porta
14) Kacey Wilkins
15) Alexandra Robb
16) *Theresa Fang
17) *Pershea Alaei
18) Laura Wiebe
19) *Ariah Leroux
20) Caitlin MacEachen
21) *Michelle Blair
22) *Sarah Wimmer
23) Laurel Crichton-Mailey
24) Rachael Ryan
25) Caroline Suchorski

*rookie

SOURCE:
 
Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-398-7012 (Tel.)
m.athletics.mcgill.ca (mobile website)
www.mcgill athletics.ca
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca
@EarlZukerman (twitter)
 
SEE COMPLETE McGILL VARSITY SCHEDULE ONLINE AT:
www.mcgillathletics.ca/calendar.aspx