MONTREAL – Mia Giles, a rearguard from Hammonds Plains, N.S., scored the game-winning goal as McGill rallied to stun the Montreal Carabins 5-2 in women's university hockey at Arena CEPSUM, Sunday.
 
It was the final game of the semester for both teams as McGill's record improved to 2-8-1 while third-place U de M dropped to 4-5-2.
 
The result was McGill's second consecutive win over the Carabins, improving their lifetime head-to-head series record to 62-40-0.

"We had a lot more players (in gear) today," said Martlets head coach Alyssa Cecere. "We wanted to end the semester on a positive note, so this result helped a lot. Everyone in the lineup stepped up their game today."

Montreal had a 35-27 advantage in shots but couldn't solve McGill goaltender Sarah Carmichael of  St. Lazare, Que., who was making only her second start of the regular season. The 5-foot-5 pharmacology senior made  33 saves for the win to even her record at 1-1 in conference play and 2-2 overall.

"Sarah rose to the occasion and was real solid for us today. It was a change of pace that we needed. She really hyped up the team before the (opening faceoff) and in the intermissions," said Cecere. "She moved well, tracked the puck well and made big saves in key moments. That kept us in the game and gave us confidence."

Amelie Poire-Lehoux opened the scoring with her first of two for Montreal at 6:43 of the first but the Martlets roared back with three straight goals to take the lead for good.

Anika Cormier, an Arts and Science junior from Ste. Marie de Kent, N.B., converted a pass from defender Elizabeth Mura to tie the game at 16:43 and send the cross-town rivals into the intermission knotted at 1-1. It was the 50th career contest overall in a McGill uniform for Cormier, who has a 3-9-12 record.

India Benoit put the Martlets ahead 2-1 at 3:33 of the second frame, set up by Mika Chang and Vienna Rubin.

Giles, a science sophomore who measures 5-foot-7, connected on the power-play for a two-goal cushion at 15:18. The 19-year-old anatomy and cellular biology major has compiled a 9-8-17 record in 48 career games overall from the blue line.

"Our power-play was moving the puck pretty well today," Cecere said. "We were getting those recoveries on loose pucks and winning those battles. Giles has a great shot and released it with Rubin screening in front of the goalie and the puck had eyes for the back of the net."

The Martlets were 1-for-3 on the power-play and erased four of five shorthanded situations.

But Poire-Lehoux responded just 83 seconds later to reduce the deficit to 3-2 heading into the final period.

The game was a nail-biter until the dying moments, when Megan Kronwald relieved the pressure with 3:11 remaining. Taylor Garcia and Olivia Pridham drew assists on the play. Kronwald, who also had an assist on the winning tally by Giles, now has two goals in regular season play and is tied for the team's overall tally with five markers in 16 contests, including a hat-trick against Carleton in non-conference play.

Blake Lavoie put the game out of reach with a long empty-netter, from inside the Martlets blue line, set up by Jordyn Watson, at 18:57. It was Lavoie's first of the regular season and ninth career goal in 26 games overall.

Carabins netminder Elissa Jean was saddled with the loss, allowing four goals on 26 shots.

McGill, which has a 5-13 record overall, will resume its schedule in the new year with a non-conference game at Ottawa on Jan. 3. The opening faceoff is set for 1:30 p.m. at the Monto Sports Complex. The Martlets will then have a week to prepare for the resumption of the regular season with a road game at Bishop's on Jan. 12.

U de M now has six weeks to ponder this setback before resuming their schedule when hosting the Gaiters on Jan. 17.

SCORING SUMMARY

U SPORTS STATS & STANDINGS

RSEQ STATS & STANDINGS
 
SOURCE
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-983-7012 (Tel.)
www.mcgillathletics.ca
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca