OTTAWA --
Shana Walker scored the game-winner and rookie goaltender
Rachelle Champion of East York, Ont., made 20 saves to record a shutout in her first career start as No.5-ranked McGill blanked Carleton 1-0 in RSEQ women's hockey at the CU Ice House, Sunday.
The win clinched a playoff berth for the Martlets, who lead the conference with an 11-4-0 record and with five games remaining, cannot finish worse than fourth. McGill holds an 88-3-1 record in 92 overall meetings with the Ravens.
"Our game was good," said McGill head coach
Peter Smith. "We still need to tune up the power play a little bit and I'd like to see more pucks go in the net but I can't complain. The girls played very well. We were solid considering that Rachelle is inexperienced, so I thought we did a good job from a defensive standpoint and managed the puck real well in our own end."
Champion turned away all 20 shots faced to collect her inaugural win at the university level. The 5-foot-5 nursing freshman hadn't played in any of the team's first 27 contests this season -- including McGill's extensive non-conference schedule -- before an in-game injury to starting netminder
Tricia Deguire at Concordia, Saturday, prompted her debut in a relief role. Deguire, who spent a few hours in the hospital, is sore from a heavy goal-mouth collision but is not expected to be out of the lineup for too long.
"I'm very happy. It's a confidence-booster," said Champion, a recruit out of Leaside high school in
in central-east Toronto. "I felt more nervous going into yesterday's game since I wasn't expecting it, but I was prepared for today because I knew I was getting the start. I told myself to play with confidence and play for the team.
"Our defence was very helpful, especially clearing the rebounds. There was one (scary) play where the puck was just sitting on the line and there was a scramble to the net, so having such strong defence definitely makes a difference. The forwards also supported me well and (moved the puck quickly) to get out of the zone. Everyone was very involved and supportive today and we just all came together to get the win."
The teams were scoreless through two periods with the Martlets outshooting their hosts 21-16 before Walker, a sophomore from North York, Ont., notched the decisive goal at 4:23 of the third.
Jade Downie-Landry of St. Jean sur Richelieu, Que., and
Lea Dumais of Beaconsfield, Que., were credited with the assists.
"Jade carried the puck over the blue line and left it in the slot," explained Smith of the play. "Walker has one of the quicker releases on the team and just snapped it right below the goalie's pads. It was a smart shot."
Katelyn Steele stopped 31 of 32 pucks in the Carleton crease as her record dropped to 3-11.
Both teams were 0-for-5 on the power play despite a hectic middle frame that included five penalties against McGill and four to the Ravens.
The Martlets visit Montreal (9-6-1) on Jan. 27. Carleton (3-10-2) next plays Concordia (6-7-1) on Jan. 29.
LINK TO COMPLETE BOXSCORE
SCORING SUMMARY
McGill 1 at Carleton 0
(Sunday, January 22, 2017 - CU Ice House @Carleton)
McGill 0-0-1 -- 1
Carleton 0-0-0 -- 0
1st Period-
(No Scoring).
Penalties-Knee Car (bodychecking), 4:01.
2nd Period-
(No Scoring).
Penalties-Daoust Mcg (slashing), 0:21; Boulianne Car (bodychecking), 1:16; Dumais Mcg (interference), 4:56; Daoust Mcg (tripping), 5:45; Lavoie Mcg (bodychecking), 7:48; Bouillon Car (hooking), 10:07; Chard Mcg (slashing), 12:50; Pearson Car (interference), 14:04; Guindon Car (tripping), 17:58.
3rd Period-
1, McGill,
Shana Walker 1 (Downie-Landry, Dumais), 4:23.
Penalties- (none)
Shots on Goal-
McGill 10-11-11 -- 32.
Carleton 9-7-4 -- 20.
Power Play Opportunities-
McGill 0 / 5;
Carleton 0 / 5.
Goalies-
McGill,
Rachelle Champion (W, 1-1-0, 20 shots-20 saves; SHO; 60:00).
Carleton,
Katelyn Steele (L, 3-11-0, 32 shots-31 saves; 59:39).
Attendance: 116
Start: 3:04 PM
End: 4:55 PM
Length: 1:51
Referees-Chris Ryan.
Linesmen-Taylor Rogalsky.
THREE STARS:
1.
MCG - 11
Shana Walker
2.
MCG - 27
Jade Downie-Landry
3.
MCG - 14
Lea Dumais
