MONTREAL – Six different players scored as the McGill University women's hockey team rallied from an early two-goal deficit to outlast Queen's 7-6 in a wild, high-scoring preseason affair at McConnell Arena, Sunday.
 
The result marked McGill's seventh straight win over the Gaels since a 3-2 overtime loss on Sept. 20, 2014 and improved their record to 19-6-1 against Queen's. It was McGill's highest offensive output since a 10-2 win over St. Thomas at the nationals on March 15, 2019. Also, the two teams combined for 13 goals, the most scored in a McGill contest since a 7-6 shootout win against Wilfrid Laurier at the Queen's Invitational Tournament on Sept. 21, 2014. .
 
The Martlets, who trailed 2-1 after the opening period, took a 4-3 lead after two, then added three more in a wide-open final stanza, where Queen's also struck for three.
 
Jade Downie-Landry potted a pair, including the game-winning tally at 14:52 of the third period to put McGill ahead 7-4. But the Queen's sister duo of Hailey Wilson and Sydney Wilson each scored in the final 98 seconds, making for a nervy ending. 

"Thank God they didn't convert their touchdown," joked McGill head coach Peter Smith of the frenzied final act. "And its too bad because I liked our third period. I thought we did a really good job in the third and then the last couple of minutes we were sloppy. But I thought there were a lot of positives in the game. It was a bounce-back game from Ryerson. We were better organized and focused and more energy in our game than yesterday."
 
Also registering markers for McGill were forwards Sidonie Chard, Marika Labrecque and Christina Colizza, along with rearguards Shana Walker and Emilia Cotter.

Five different Gaels found the net for Queen's, including Taylor Hicks of Whitby, Ont., who tallied twice. She scored her first a power-play at the 79-second mark of the first period -- after McGill took a too-many-men bench penalty on the second shift of the game -- and later struck 29 seconds into the third period for Queen's to make it 4-4.

Rounding out the scoring for the visitors was Jessica, O'Malley and defenceman Devon Greenough.
 
The Martlets had a 43-30 edge in shots and went 1-for-2 on the power-play, while Queen's converted on two of four opportunities.
 
"Our penalty kill had been terrific," noted Smith. "They scored a couple on the power-play which we would have liked to have back but again, it is about taking care of the details. I think we weren't great at that yesterday (in a surprising 3-2 loss to Ryerson) and today we were a lot better. But we still didn't quite get a 60-minute game today."
 
It was a hard day at the office for goaltenders but despite the Baker's Dozen on the scoresheet, both teams went the distance with their starters. For McGill, Amanda Hadwen, a junior from Ottawa, collected the win despite conceding six goals on 30 shots. Queen's netminder Makenzy Arsenault stopped 36 of 43 pucks fired in her direction and took the loss.
 
McGill (5-1) will close out their preseason schedule with a grueling three games in three days, all south of the U.S.border. They will play at Harvard on Oct. 11 at 6 p.m., followed by stops at Yale (Oct. 12) and Dartmouth (Oct. 13). The latter two games are slated for 2 p.m. starts.
 
Queen's, which lost all six preseason games, will now focus on their OUA regular season, which opens at home to visiting Toronto on Oct. 18.

 
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