[Photo of McGill's Marie-Philip Lavoie COURTESY C A HILL PHOTO]

CANTON, N.Y. -- Justine Reyes scored a pair of goals, including the game winner, as the NCAA's St. Lawrence Saints defeated McGill 3-1 in women's hockey preseason play at Appleton Arena in upper-state New York on Saturday.

The Martlets, who were outshot 24-14 in the contest, own a 5-11-1 lifetime record against SLU. As is often the case in cross-border clashes played on American soil, the host team got off to an energetic start and an early lead, bolstered by a plethora of power-play chances.

"We didn't have a great start, again, and there was no flow (because of penalties)," said McGill head coach Peter Smith. "It was their first game and they jumped out and had us back on our heels early on, much like Friday's game (a 3-2 loss at Vermont) and we've got to get over that. It's too bad because we were real good in the second half of both games and proved that we could skate with these NCAA teams, even though we're young and inexperienced. But against any team, especially good teams, you gotta play 60 minutes."

Reyes opened the scoring on the power-play three minutes into the first period and followed that up with an even-strength tally just 79 seconds later. Amanda Butterfield increased the Saints' lead to 3-0 with a power-play goal at 15:30 of the middle frame.

Sophomore Kate Devries, a 5-foot-11 defenceman from Dollard des Ormeaux, Que., finally put the Martlets on the board -- assisted by rookie Kellyane Lecours of Victoriaville, Que., -- with her first career goal at 10:48 of the third period to spoil a combined shutout bid by two SLU goalies.

Starting netminder Sonjia Shelly earned the win for St. Lawrence after stopping all three shots faced in 31:16. She was swapped out midway through the second period for teammate Grace Harrison, who made 10 saves on 11 shots.

Tricia Deguire of Sherbrooke, Que., took the loss for McGill after allowing three goals on 24 shots.

The Martlets were 0-for-3 on the power play, while the Saints went 2-for-7.

McGill hosts the Montreal Canadiennes of the Canadian Women's Hockey League -- a team that features numerous McGill grads -- on Friday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. at McConnell Arena, while St. Lawrence begins their regular season at Mercyhurst that same evening.

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