QUEBEC CITY – Rookie blueliner Cassidy Blanchard became the third member of her family to score for a McGill varsity team but it was all in vain as the Martlets fell 6-4 to Bishop's in women's university hockey on Friday. Her first career goal was overshadowed by Noemie Fontaine who registered a hat-trick for the Gaiters, scoring in each period in a neutral-ice game played at Arena Val Belair in Quebec City.
 
This was part of an annual joint pilot project among RSEQ teams to promote and grow the women's game outside of Montreal.
 
Blanchard, a science freshman from Fonthill, Ont., found the back of the net for her first career goal in a McGill uniform. Her two older brothers, Maxime and Alexandre, are both management juniors who patrol the blueline for the men's team. She now has one goal in 23 games for the Martlets, compared to Max, who has 14 goals in 105 games overall for the Redbirds and Alex who has two markers in 61 career contests.
 
Joining Blanchard on the scoresheet was rearguards Mia Giles, with other singles coming from the sticks of centre Vienna Rubin and Jordyn Watson.
 
Giles, a science sophomore from Hammonds Plains, N.S., now has a 10-9-19 career record in 55 games overall for the Martlets. Rubin, a management sophomore from West Vancouver, B.C., who was held goalless in 32 games over her freshman year, now has scored five goals in 22 games overall this season. Watson, an elementary education freshman from Kingston, Ont., now has three goals in 24 contests overall.
 
The Gaiters, who had a 44-22 edge in shots, led 2-1 after the opening period and 5-3 after two. They went 2-for-6 on the power-play and added a shorthanded marker as McGill went 0-for-4.
 
Rounding out the scoring for Bishop's was forward Justine Turcotte with a pair and defender Gabrielle Santerre.
 
BU goaltender Ericka Gagnon saved 18 of 22 shots for the victory, while McGill's Jade Rivard-Coulombe saved 38 of 44 in a losing cause.
 
The Gaiters improved their lifetime record with McGill to 17-8 in 25 meetings overall. Bishop's, which sits second in the Quebec league with a 9-7-2 record, will host the third-place Montreal Carabins (7-8-3) on Sunday (Feb. 9). McGill (3-12-2) will hoist division-leading Concordia (16-1-0) on Sunday (Feb. 9) at Place Bell in a 3:30 p.m. puck drop.
 
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