MONTREAL – Three different players scored for Montreal as the Carabins escaped with a narrow 3-2 road victory over McGill at McConnell Arena, Saturday.
 
This was McGill's third straight loss to Montreal since upsetting the Carabins 4-1 on Oct. 20, 2023. The Martlets now own a 60-37-0 record in 97 lifetime meetings against the Carabins.
 
McGill had a 31-29 edge in shots but were thwarted on multiple good scoring chances by UdeM goaltender Maude Desroches, who made 29 saves for the win.
 
The visitors led 2-0 after the first period on goals scored only three minutes apart from forward Joannie Garand (6:31) and defenceman Kelly-Ann Nadeau (9:22). Montreal added an insurance marker, which proved to be the game-winner, in the middle stanza when forward Laurie-Anne Ethier connected with just five seconds remaining on the clock.
 
Desroches's shutout bid was spoiled at 7:10 of the final period when rookie forward Syrine Kacem, a physiology freshman from Quebec City, intercepted a pass and tallied an unassisted goal. That ignited the Martlets who swarmed around the Carabins for the remainder of the contest. It paid off when Elizabeth Mura, a junior rearguard from Calgary, swooped in from the point and scored at 14:56. Veteran Stephanie Keeper, a fellow Albertan from Red Deer, drew the lone assist
 
Sarah Carmichael, a junior from St. Lazare, Que., started in the McGill net and registered 26 saves in a losing cause.
 
 Only three penalties were called and the Martlets were 0-for-2 on the power-play, while Montreal was 0-for-1.
 
The second-place Carabins improved to 11-5-2 and sit just two points ahead of Bishop's (11-7-0) in the six-team RSEQ conference.
 
Despite a third consecutive loss, McGill's playoff hopes are still within reach. With seven games remaining, the sixth-place Martlets are 4-13-1two points behind Carleton (5-12-1) and five behind Ottawa, which sits in the final playoff berth at 5-9-4. McGill has two games remaining with both clubs, beginning with a key road game at Carleton on Jan. 25, followed by a must-win home match-up against the Ravens on Jan. 27. Both games are slated to start at 7 p.m.
 
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SOURCE
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-983-7012 (cell.)
www.mcgillathletics.ca
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca