TORONTO -- Five different marksmen hit their target and goaltender Taylor Hough posted a 19-save shutout in a triumphant return to her hometown as second-ranked McGill blanked No.6 Toronto 5-0 in women's hockey exhibition play at Varsity Arena, Sunday.

It was McGill's sixth consecutive victory against U of T but their first meeting since 2009, when they skated to a 4-1 conquest at Concordia's Theresa Humes tourney. These longtime rivals first started playing each other in 1922. In the post-war-era, the Martlets are 12-4-0 against the Varsity Blues, outscoring them 44-18.

Hough, a 5-foot-10 senior majoring in international development studies, collected the victory between the pipes, improving to 6-4 overall. She now has five career shutouts and a lifetime 34-18 overall record in four seasons with the Martlets.

The Martlets, who had a 33-19 advantage in shots, jumped into an early 3-0 lead on goals by Stefanie Pohlod (3:27), Erika Pyke (6:03) and Nicole Howlett (8:00).

Alexandria Serpico put McGill ahead by four at 11:56 of the middle stanza and sniper Gabrielle Davidson rounded out the scoring just 50 seconds into the final period. Davidson. who also collected a helper, now has eight goals and 18 points in 22 games overall.

"The girls played well, we came out with enthusiasm, played fast and with good structure," said Martlets head coach Peter Smith, whose troops hadn't played since late November and only had two post-Christmas practices under their belts before making the six-hour bus trip to Toronto. "The girls were real keen to get back on the ice. They always enjoy the break but are anxious to get back on the ice. We were real active out there, all four lines scored today and our special teams did very well."

McGill produced an impressive 2-for-5 performance on the power-play and killed all five shorthanded situations, despite not having the services of team captain and leading scorer Melodie Daoust, who was named today as captain of the Canadian women's team which opens the Nations Cup tourney against Sweden on Jan. 4 (at 9 am Eastern) in Fussen, Germany.

Valencia Yordanov started for the Varsity Blues and took the loss, conceding four goals on 17  shots before giving way at the midway mark to Hailey Farrelly, who saved 15 of 16 shots the rest of the way.

McGill, which improved to 9-6 against CIS opponents, will play another non-conference contest on Monday afternoon at York before returning home to prepare for the resumption of their regular season. The Blues return to league action in the OUA on Jan. 8 against Nipissing in North Bay, Ont.

MARTLET MURMURS: The Martlets had a vocal crowd of alumni families, friends and McGill supporters at the game... Among the former Martlets spotted in the crowd were: Andrea Weckman, Jasmine Sheehan, Peggy Donohue, Suzy Fujiki and Christine Hartnoll, who announced to friends and family over Christmas that she is expecting twins.

LINK TO COMPLETE BOXSCORE

SCORING SUMMARY
McGill 5 at Toronto 0
(Sunday, January 3, 2016 - EXHIBITION at Varsity Arena)

GOALS BY PERIOD
McGill 3-1-1 -- 5
Toronto 0-0-0 -- 0

1st Period-
1, McGill, Stefanie Pohlod 3 (Psihogios, Moffatt), 3:27 (PP).
2, McGill, Erika Pyke 2 (Sutter, Cagianos), 6:03.
3, McGill, Nicole Howlett 1 (Atkinson), 8:00.

Penalties-Roache Tor (cross checking), 1:52; Looije Tor (roughing), 9:25; Cotter Mcg (hooking), 16:43.

2nd Period-
4, McGill, Alexandria Serpico 2 (Lavoie, Davidson), 11:56.

Penalties-Robichaud Tor (cross checking), 0:38; Davidson Mcg (interference on goaltender), 9:05; Serpico Mcg (cross checking), 18:35; Weidenfelder Tor (hooking), 19:31.

3rd Period-
5, McGill, Gabrielle Davidson 8 (Lavoie, Serpico), 0:50 (PP).

Penalties-Howlett Mcg (holding), 5:14; Atkinson Mcg (slashing), 6:03; Riseley Tor (tripping), 11:45.

Shots on Goal-
McGill 11-11-11 -- 33.
Toronto 4-6-9 -- 19.

Power Play Opportunities-
McGill 2 / 5;
Toronto 0 / 5.

Goalies-
McGill,
Taylor Hough (W, 2-2-0, 19 shots-19 saves; 60:00).
Toronto,
Valencia Yordanov (Start; L, 17 shots-13 saves; 31:56);
Hailey Farrelly (16 shots-15 saves; 28:04).

Attendance: 100
Start: 2:00 PM
End: 4:00 PM
Length: 2:00

Referee-Amanda Morra.
Linesmen-Amber Bowman, Jessica Claramount.

THREE STARS
1. MCG - 15 Gabrielle Davidson
2. MCG - 9 Alexandria Serpico
3. MCG - 32 Taylor Hough

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