LACROSSE: Gifted goalie Gallo great, guts Gaels in gritty game

KINGSTON, ONT. – Goaltender Michael Gallo, a senior from Glen Rock, N.J., stopped 12 of 15 shots and Tanner Baldin of Brantford, Ont., tallied the game-winner as the McGill men's lacrosse team held on to edge Queen's 4-3 in low-scoring contest, Sunday, at Miklas-McCarney Field.

The result improved McGill's unblemished record to 4-0 in league play and extended their prolonged win streak over Queen's to 28 consecutive games, dating back to an 8-6 loss on Oct. 17, 2004.

McGill, which had a 24-15 edge in shots, led 1-0 after the opening period, 2-1 at halftime and 4-2 after three. Gaels netminder Ryan Trent made 20 saves in a losing cause. Queen's had a 4-2 edge in face-offs.

"It was a real defensive struggle, highlighted by two goaltenders who were very impressive," said McGill head coach Tim Murdoch. "We had a slight lead for most of the game but Queen's has a talented team and battled us every step of the way."

Cameron McGinnis opened the scoring for McGill with his team-leading fifth marker just 32 seconds after the opening faceoff. Teammate Hunter Zawada, a junior from Kimberley, B.C., put McGill ahead 2-1 in the second quarter. Senior Maxime Murdoch of Westmount, Que., made it 3-1 in the third and Baldin made it a 4-2 cushion with just over three minutes remaining in the third quarter.

Midfielder Carter McKenzie scored a pair for Queen's after Emmet Donahue of New Westminster, B.C., had tied the game at 1-1.

McGill had to scramble to get to the game on time as their bus suffered mechanical issues about four kilometres short of the venue. It was eerily reminiscent of last year's trip to Kingston, where a bus breakdown resulted in a delay to the start.

"It was déjà-vu, kind of like the movie Groundhog Day," said Murdoch. "Luckily we had a lot of parents (following the team). So about four or five parents shuttled the guys over between the broken down bus and the field."

McGill (4-0) travels to Bishop's on Thursday night, Sept. 26 at Coulter Field in Lennoxville. Queen's (2-2) will host Carleton on Sept. 28.

2019 CUFLA STANDINGS