MONTREAL – Katherine Birkby, a senior from Ayr, Ont., scored twice, including the winner, and added an assist as Ottawa skated to a 3-2 triumph over No.1 ranked McGill in women's hockey at the Minto Sports Complex, Sunday.
 
It was the second straight loss for the Martlets since their eight-game win streak was snapped with a 5-2 setback at Concordia on Nov. 19. McGill, which has split their two meetings with the Gee-Gees this season, now hold a lifetime head-to-head record of 105-25-7 in 137 meetings overall with Ottawa.
 
The teams were tied 1-1 after the first period and 2-2 after two.
 
Birkby was a "one-woman show". She tallied the opening goal of the game only 49 seconds after the initial puck-drop, then assisted on Kathleen Reedman's go-ahead power-play goal at 4:24 of the second, and notched the game-winning marker, also on a power-play, 11:52 of the final stanza.
 
Replying for the Martlets were forwards Jade Downie-Landry of St. Jean, Que., and Cassidy Stasiuk, a sophomore from Kamloops, B.C.

It was the league-leading eighth goal in eight games for Downie-Landry, who struck only 26 seconds after Birkby had given the Gee-Gees a 1-0 lead. Christiana Colizza, a senior from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., set up the goal with her sixth assist of the season.
 
Stasiuk's marker, scored on the power-play, was her first career goal in 14 games overall with the Martlets. Freshman Jaime Kastelic of Burlington, Ont., and senior Laura Jardin of Calgary, drew assists on the play.
 
McGill had a 33-27 edge in shots but had a hard time solving rookie netminder Mahika Sarrazin of Gatineau, Que., who made 31 saves for the win. Tricia Deguire of Sherbrooke, Que., made 24 saves in a losing cause for McGill.
 
The Martlets went 1-for-3 on the power-play, while Ottawa connected on two of their four chances.
 
McGill, which still leads the RSEQ conference with a 6-2-0 record, has three contests remaining before the December exam break. They will try to snap their two-game skid when Carleton (3-5-0) visits McConnell Arena in a rare Thursday night affair on Nov. 25 at 7 p.m.
 
Ottawa (4-4-0) will host Bishop's (3-5-0) on Nov. 26.

SCORING SUMMARY

RSEQ STATS & STANDINGS

SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-398-7012 (Off.)
m.athletics.mcgill.ca (mobile website)
www.mcgillathletics.ca
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca