MONTREAL -- Three different players scored for McGill in a 3-1 victory over archrival Concordia in women's university soccer in humid conditions, Sunday.

Under sunny skies and 28C temperatures, it was closer to 35C on the artificial surface at Percival Molson Stadium and a number of water-break timeouts were called by the referee.

Midfielder Katherine Chadwick, a neuroscience senior from Ottawa, opened the scoring in the 29th minute of play. She took a pass from Chloe Renaud and fired a spectacular volley from 28 yards into the top right corner.

Fifth-year senior Liliane Lefebvre, a master's student in nursing who hails from Toronto, put the Martlets ahead by two in the 44th minute when she headed in a splendid pass from Chloe Renaud of St. Hubert, Que., who made an impressive an athletic play, saving a ball from crossing the backline.

"Our team stayed focussed on that play and it paid off," said McGill head coach Jose-Luis Valdes. "The Concordia players seemed to be disengaged, either because they thought that there would be a foul on the play or that the ball was going out of bounds."

The Martlets made it 3-0 in the 76th minute when Alexandra Hughes-Goyette of Squamish, B.C., a first-year transfer from UNB, found the back of the net. She pounced on a turnover at the 30-yard marker, ran 10 yards and lofted a ball past the charging 'keeper into the top right side.

Concordia's Safa Sabry scored in the 83rd minute to spoiled the shutout bid by Sophie Guilmette. The 5-foot-6 'keeper from Ahuntsic, Que., was credited with one save on two shots faced.

Stingers netminder Annastasia Fox conceded three goals on six shots and was saddled with the loss.

McGill had an 8-3 edge in attempted shots, including a 6-2 margin on net. The Martlets also held a lopsided 8-2 advantage in corner kicks. Only a dozen fouls were called, including four against Concordia, which took the only yellow card (Dayne Lebans) that was issued.

The victory improved McGill's record to 2-0 in the RSEQ conference, marking the first time since 2012 that the Martlets had opened the season with two consecutive wins. That season, McGill won their first six games en route to a 9-3-2 record.

Combined with McGill's 3-2 win in the men's game, the doubleheader sweep was the first for the Redbirds and Martlets since Sept. 25, 2022 when they both conquered Sherbrooke.

"It's been two really good games for us this week," noted Valdes. "We were solid in our preseason schedule and we were curious to see how that would transfer into the regular season. So far so good. We were in control for most of our games. Defensively, on transition, when we lose the ball, we've been really quick at getting it back."

McGill (2-0-0) plays next on the road, against the Montreal Carabins (1-0-1) at Stade CEPSUM on Sept. 8 at 6 p.m.

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SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-983-7012
WEBSITE:www.mcgillathletics.ca
E-MAIL:earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca