MONTREAL --
Sophie Gagnon scored the game-winner midway through the final period as Concordia upset fifth-ranked McGill 3-1 in RSEQ women's hockey at Ed Meagher Arena on Saturday.
The loss dropped the Martlets' record to 78-39-3 in 120 meetings overall with the Stingers since women's hockey became formally sanctioned with a national championship in 1997.
The game was delayed about 15 minutes when McGill's starting goaltender
Tricia Deguire, a freshman from Sherbrooke, Que., was was taken off the ice on a stretcher after Concordia sophomore
Claudia Dubois collided with her on a partial breakaway at 7:38 of the first period. Dubois's body appeared to jolt Deguire in the head and neck area as she dove forward in an attempt to poke check the puck. The stricken netminder was transported to hospital as a precautionary measure.
Deguire, who has played every minute of every game for McGill this season -- and leads the league in save percentage (.935), goals-against average (1.68) and wins (10) -- was replaced by her understudy,
Rachelle Champion, a rookie from East York, Ont., who made her Martlets debut and took the loss, stopping 18 of 20 shots in relief.
"We had planned to play Rachelle in Sunday's game at Carleton so she got kind of an early baptism by fire today," said McGill head coach
Peter Smith of Champion's first career contest at the university level. "It's pretty tough for her in that situation but she did pretty well. We only scored one goal and didn't give her enough support. We (failed to) get enough pucks to their net to be successful in the game today.
"I don't think that we panicked after Deguire's injury," added Smith. "We did pretty well there and particularly for the rest of the period but got away from from our game plan in the second period and gave them a lot of opportunities."
After a scoreless first period, McGill took the lead on an unassisted goal by team captain
Melodie Daoust of Valleyfield, Que., at 18:15 of the middle stanza. She stole the puck off a Concordia defender behind the net, skated back to and around the right faceoff circle, then rifled a shot past from the high slot, just inside the right goal post.
Defenceman
Stéphanie Lalancette tied it up for the Stingers just 3:08 into the third with a long wrist-shot after
Audrey Belzile had won a faceoff back to the point. Gagnon put the hosts ahead on scramble in front of the net at 10:13, with help from
Tracy-Ann Lavigne.
Keriann Schofield added an empty-net insurance marker with 10 seconds left in the game.
Concordia netminder
Katherine Purchase turned away 18 of 19 shots for the victory as her record improved to 5-7.
McGill was 0-for-1 on the power play and killed off all three shorthanded scenarios.
"We only had the one power play and I think that's indicative that we need to play a little harder and create a few more (with our speed)," said Smith. "It certainly wasn't our top effort and we need to be better tomorrow."
McGill (10-4-0) travels to Ottawa on Sunday (Jan. 22) to take on Carleton (3-9-2). Concordia (6-7-1) next plays on Jan. 28 against Ottawa (9-6-1).
LINK TO COMPLETE BOXSCORE
SCORING SUMMARY
McGill 1 at Concordia 3
(Saturday, January 21, 2017 - Ed Meagher Arena @ Concordia)
GOALS BY PERIOD:
McGill 0-1-0 -- 1
Concordia 0-0-3 -- 3
1st Period-
(No Scoring).
Penalties-Davies Mcg (slashing), 12:14.
2nd Period-
1, McGill,
Melodie Daoust 6 (unassisted), 18:15.
Penalties-Dumais Mcg (tripping), 8:16; Prevost Con (bodychecking), 15:19.
3rd Period-
2, Concordia,
Stéphanie Lalancette 4 (Belzile, Gagne), 3:08.
3, Concordia,
Sophie Gagnon 4 (Lavigne, Dubois), 10:13.
4, Concordia,
Keriann Schofield 3 (unassisted), 19:50 (EN).
Penalties-Starnino Mcg (tripping), 16:06.
Shots on Goal-
McGill 6-8-5 -- 19.
Concordia 9-7-9 -- 25.
Power Play Opportunities-
McGill 0 / 1;
Concordia 0 / 3.
Goalies-
McGill,
Tricia Deguire (Start, ND, 4 shots-4 saves; 7:38);
Rachelle Champion (L, 0-1-0, 20 shots-18 saves; 51:17).
Concordia,
Katherine Purchase (W, 5-7-0, 19 shots-18 saves; 60:00).
Attendance: 211
Start: 3:05 PM
End: 5:17 PM
Length: 2:12
Referees-Gabrielle Ariane-Lortie, Laurie Longpre.
Linesmen-Marie-Pierre Jalbert.
THREE STARS:
1.
CON - 11
Sophie Gagnon
2.
CON - 15
Stéphanie Lalancette
3.
CON - 35
Katherine Purchase
| 2016-17 RSEQ Women's Hockey Standings (updated) • Classement de la saison régulière |
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