OTTAWA – Goaltender Mahika Sarrazin posted a 33-save shutout and Ariane Aubin scored the game-winner at 2:16 of the final period as the upstart Ottawa Gee-Gees staved off elimination with a 1-0 victory over McGill in an RSEQ women's hockey semifinal at the Minto Sports Complex, Saturday.

Ottawa, which dropped Thursday's opener 5-1, evened the best-of three series at 1-1 and will travel to Montreal for Sunday's rubber match in a 2 p.m. start at McConnell Arena.

Sarrazin took advantage of a turnover at the Ottawa blueline to break out down the length of the ice on a 2-on-0 with linemate Kate Maclean. The duo worked a give-and-go passing play to beat startled netminder Tricia Deguire for the game's only goal.

"We got away from our game plan early on and it took us a while to get going," admitted McGill bench boss Alyssa Cecere. "We lacked some urgency at the start. We had some good chances as the game went on but their goalie played very well."

McGill had a 33-20 edge in shots, including a 16-4 margin in the final period. But the Martlets couldn't solve Aubin, who looked inpenetrable for the shutout. She also had a lot of help from her goal posts as McGill hit at least four in the final period alone.

Deguire stopped 19 of 20 shots and was saddled with the loss.

Both teams struggled on the power-play as McGill went 0-for-3 and Ottawa was 0-for-4.

This marked the team's first 1-0 loss since Concordia defeated McGill on Nov. 8, 2019.

MARTLET MURMURS: The start of the game was delayed about 20 minutes as officials were concerned about COVID protocols. As a precaution, both teams opted to play with medical masks, including the goalies and the on-ice officials.

SCORING SUMMARY

RSEQ STATS & STANDINGS


SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-398-7012
www.mcgillathletics.ca
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca