MONTREAL – Defenceman Kate Devries of Dollard des Ormeaux, Que., scored at 12 seconds of double-overtime as an offensively-depleted McGill women's hockey team edged Ottawa 3-2 in RSEQ play at McConnell Arena on Friday.
 
"It was a courageous effort today. There were no passengers in the game," said McGill head coach Peter Smith of an injury-riddled squad that dressed 19 players and battled Ottawa without its entire first line for most of the game.

McGill lost senior forward Jade Downie-Landry after a mid-ice collision early in the second period. Both of her linemates -- Kellyane Lecours and Lea Dumais -- had already been sidelined, one from an injury suffered in practice.

"We had a solid game from everybody and that's not easy," Smith continued. "To play a game at that level, that intensity, with only nine forwards from the drop of the puck all the way through to overtime was terrific."
 
During preseason, the potent Downie-Landry–Lecours–Dumais line combined for 48 per cent of McGill's total goals (16/33).
 
Devries, a six-foot senior, in bio-engineering, scored her first career game-winner mere seconds into the second five-minute overtime period. Stephanie Desjardins of Grand Falls, N.B., was credited with an assist on the play. It was first of the season for Devries and her seventh career marker in 86 career contests.
 
Two of McGill's three goals were scored by rearguards, who have now combined to tally three times in four league games, already surpassing last year's season total of only two goals in 20 games.

Cassidy Bell, a blueliner from Baldonnel, B.C., had put the Martlets ahead three minutes after the opening whistle, set up by Marika Labrecque and Megan Harley.

But Ottawa replied via Alexe Drouin who knotted the score 1-1 at 11:50 of the first period.
 
Sophomore Laura Jardin from Calgary restored McGill's lead at 16:43 of the middle frame but Ottawa equalized again through Kate Maclean's effort exactly two minutes later.

The game remained locked at 2-2 for 30 minutes and 17 seconds before the overtime winner.
 
McGill, which outshot Ottawa 39-29, including 6- in overtime, was 0-for-2 on the power play and successfully killed all three shorthanded situations. The Martlets have now staved off 94.1 per cent of opposition power-plays this season (16/17).
 
Martlets' goaltender Tricia Deguire of Sherbrooke, Que., saved 27 of 29 shots to even her record at 2-2. The 5-foot-8 kinesiology senior ranks second among starting goalies in both goals-against-average (1.41) and save percentage (.947).

Gee-Gees netminder Jennifer Walker, making her first start of the season, turned away 36 of 39 shots in a losing effort.
 
The Martlets, who have now won three straight games against uOttawa, improved their lifetime record to 101-21-7 in 129 lifetime meetings since 1997-98. Ottawa, still in search of a win this season, dropped to 0-2-1.
 
Both sides battle their respective city rivals next. The Gee-Gees (0-2-1) take part in a capital city clash against Carleton (0-3-0) on Sunday (Nov. 3). Meanwhile, McGill (2-1-1) has a week off to lick their wounds in preparation for a showdown against division-leading Concordia (4-0-0) on Nov. 8 in a 7:30 p.m. puck drop at the Ed Meagher Arena.

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RSEQ LEAGUE STANDINGS & STATS