MONTREAL -- Cora Constantinou of Scarborough, Ont., scored the game-winner and rookie netminder Tricia Deguire of Sherbrooke, Que., posted a 13-save shutout as McGill blanked Toronto 2-0 in women's exhibition hockey at McConnell Arena on Saturday.

It was the fourth consecutive win for the Martlets after starting off their preseason schedule with four straight losses. It also marked the seventh consecutive victory for McGill over U of T. These longtime rivals first started playing each other in 1922. In the post-war-era, the Martlets are 13-4-0 against the Varsity Blues, outscoring them 46-18.

Constantinou, a 5-foot-2 junior in political science and economics, buried a power play goal at 15:47 of the second period, giving the Martlets a 1-0 lead. Erica Starnino of Town of Mount Royal, Que., recorded the lone assist. On the play, Constantinou dug the puck out of the corner and skated between the faceoff dot and the goal line, then fired it at the net.

Marie-Philip Lavoie of Pohenegamook, Que., added an insurance marker at 10:44 of the third, assisted by Jade Downie-Landry, a psychology freshman from St. Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.

It was the eighth consecutive start between the pipes for Deguire, who merited her third career shutout and second in as many outings. The Martlets had a 31-13 edge in shots, as UofT goaltender Valencia Yordanov of Port Coquitlam, B.C., made 29 saves and took the loss.

"I didn't really like out start that much, we were flat " said McGill head coach Peter Smith rather bluntly. "Our feet weren't moving and we weren't supporting the puck carrier. But in all fairness, we improved as the game wore on and had a good third period."

Toronto took seven of the nine minor penalties that were called, including six straight infractions over the final 30 minutes. McGill was 1-for-7 on the power play, and killed both penalties taken.

The Martlets, whose exhibition record now sits at an even 4-4, will host the Lac St. Louis Tigers, a boys midget espoir team, on Oct. 7, before ending the preseason with a three-game NCAA tour of Harvard, Yale and Dartmouth.

The Varsity Blues (1-5-0) faceoff against Moncton (0-5-0) in the final game of their Montreal tour with an 11 a.m. puck drop at McConnell Arena, on Sunday (Oct. 2). The Aigles Bleues fell 3-2 to Montreal at Arena CEPSUM on Saturday.
 
LINK TO COMPLETE BOXSCORE

SCORING SUMMARY
Toronto 0 at McGill 2
(Saturday, October 1, 2016 - McConnell Arena @ McGill)

GOALS BY PERIOD:
Toronto 0-0-0 -- 0
McGill 0-1-1 -- 2

1st Period-
(No Scoring).
 
Penalties-Tor BENCH served by Power (too many men), 4:40.

2nd Period-
1, McGill, Cora Constantinou 1 (Starnino), 15:49 (PP).
 
Penalties-Cotter Mcg (hooking), 7:39; Howlett Mcg (roughing), 7:50; Szulewska Tor (interference), 9:28; Chao Tor (roughing), 13:50; Power Tor (holding), 16:54.

3rd Period-
2, McGill, Marie-Philip Lavoie 5 (Downie-Landry), 10:44.
 
Penalties-Riseley Tor (roughing), 16:26; Bowering Tor (tripping), 17:53; Chao Tor (roughing), 18:11.

Shots on Goal-
Toronto 4-6-3 -- 13.
McGill 10-10-11 -- 31.

Power Play Opportunities-
Toronto 0 / 2;
McGill 1 / 7.

Goalies-
Toronto, Valencia Yordanov (L, 0-1-0, 31 shots-29 saves; 60:00).
McGill, Tricia Deguire (W, 4-4-0, 13 shots-13 saves; 60:00).

Attendance: 77
Start: 5:04 PM
End: 6:59 PM
Length: 1:55
 
OFFICIALS:
Patricia Pare, Referee
Joanie Duchesneau, Linesman
Genevieve Gouin, Linesman

THREE STARS:
1. MCG - 28 Cora Constantinou
2. MCG - 33 Tricia Deguire
3. TOR - 33 Valencia Yordanov


FOR MORE INFO CONTACT:

Kristen Whelan or Earl Zukerman
McGill Sports Info Office
(514) 398-7012