MONTREAL – Jade Downie-Landry of St. Jean, Que., scored the game-winner and assisted on the insurance goal as No.3 ranked McGill doubled visiting Carleton 4-2, in a rare Thursday night women's hockey confrontation at McConnell Arena.

The result snapped a two-game losing streak for the Martlets, who lead the RSEQ conference with a 7-2 record. It marked the fifth straight win for McGill over Carleton and improved their all-time head-to-head record to 104-5-1, including a 53-2-0 mark on home ice.

"We had a bit of a slow start and got away from the little details that were (supposed to be) our focus for the game," said head coach Alyssa Cecere. "We tried to get back to our game (plan) throughout and we did but we still need to keep working on our starts."

The Martlets, who had a slim 35-32 edge in shots, led 2-0 after the first period. Sophomore forward Makenzie McCallum of Morden, Man., and rookie defenceman Olivia Pridham of Stouffville, Ont., both connected on very efficient power-play scenarios, emanating from a pair of faceoffs won cleanly by centre Laura Jardin, a senior from Calgary. 

McCallum jammed home a pass from Jaime Kastelic at 8:56, just six seconds after Carleton's Kate Lengyel was whistled for body-checking. It was almost an instant replay minutes later, when Pridham scored her first career marker at 13:04, only eight seconds after Nicole MacNeil was called for the same infraction.

Downie-Landry then took control, giving McGill a back-breaking 3-0 advantage at 1:50 of the middle frame. It proved to be the game-winning tally and her league-leading ninth goal in as many games. Carleton rearguard Nicole Hunter narrowed the gap to 3-1 two minutes later, but Downie-Landry stepped up in the final period. She intercepted a pass and set up teammate Emma Piers for a shorthanded marker with 3:11 remaining in the game. It was the first career regular season goal for Piers, a freshman forward from Beaconsfield, Que.

Only 34 seconds later, Carleton's Sydney Berta connected on a power play to complete the scoring.

Special teams was the certainly story of the soiree as McGill went 2-for-3 with the extra attacker in addition to the shorthanded tally. The Martlets also erased five of six Carleton PP chances, including an alarming full-length 5-on-3 situation while protecting a precarious 3-1 lead in the second period.

That's when 5-foot-8 rookie goaltender Sophie Lajeunesse of Calgary, stampeded into the Martlets encampment like the cavalry. She made a plethora of key saves to snuff out the threat and preserve the two-goal lead. The 18-year-old engineering freshman kicked out 30 of 32 shots to collect the win in her first career regular season start. She is the third member of the Lajeunesse clan to make their mark at McConnell Arena, following in the footsteps of her father (Francois) and uncle (Marc), who both skated for McGill three decades ago.

Both teams return to action on Sunday (Nov. 28), when Carleton (3-6) plays at Concordia (5-2-1) at 3 p.m., while McGill (7-2-0) plays at Bishop's (3-5-0) at 3:30 p.m.

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