(VERSION FRANÇAISE SUIT)
KINGSTON, Ont. — Liam Miletich scored three goals and added three assists, but the McGill Redbirds suffered their first defeat of the season, falling 12-10 to the Queen's Gaels in Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association action at MikMac Field, Sunday.
The result snapped McGill's eight-game winning streak and dropped the first-place Redbirds to 8-1 atop the CUFLA East Division. Third-place Queen's improved to 6-3, avenging a 9-5 loss at McGill on Sept. 19.
The setback also ended McGill's bid for its first undefeated regular season since 2024, when the Redbirds posted a perfect 10-0 record.
Queen's jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the opening quarter before McGill responded with two goals to cut the deficit to 3-2. The teams traded goals in the second stanza, leaving the Gaels and Redbirds deadlocked at 5-5 at halftime.
McGill battled back from a pair of one-goal deficits in the third quarter to pull even at 8-8, but Queen's outscored the visitors 4-2 in the final stanza to secure the victory.
Ryan Gonsalvez led the Gaels with three goals and two assists for five points, while Cam Milligan added two goals and three helpers. Tanner Harrison contributed two goals and two assists, with Dean Fawthrop and Kai Faller also scoring twice. Faller, the younger brother of McGill offensive midfielder Jack Faller, scored both his goals in the opening quarter. Travis Campbell rounded out the Queen's scoring.
Miletich paced McGill with six points, while Jason Bonnema scored twice and added an assist. Callum Olson also struck twice, with Tyler Miocevich, Jack Faller and Torsten Blodgett adding singles.
McGill held a slim 24-23 advantage in shots, including a 7-5 margin in the final quarter.
Garrett Thomson played all 60 minutes in the Queen's net and was credited with the victory, while Brennan Visokey went the distance for McGill and was charged with the loss.
The Redbirds were assessed four penalties, while Queen's drew three infractions.
The Gaels (6-3) conclude their schedule on Halloween, hosting Bishop's (2-6).
McGill (8-1) will close out the regular season with a showdown at second-place Ottawa (7-2) on Sunday, Nov. 1, with the CUFLA East Division pennant at stake. The Redbirds won the previous meeting 14-13 in Montreal on Oct. 17. Whichever team wins would clinch the pennant for the winning team.
Should Ottawa win by a single goal, the teams would finish tied in the standings and in the tie-breaker (head-to-head goal average). The pennant would then be decided by overall regular-season goal average. Ottawa enters the finale with 121 goals scored and 80 allowed, compared with McGill's 118 and 78. Under the CUFLA formula, a one-goal Ottawa victory would give the Gee-Gees the tiebreaker and the division title, which would result in a first-round bye at nationals.
Regardless of the outcome, the Gee-Gees have already qualified for the national championship as the host team. McGill will host fifth-place Bishop's in a sudden-death CUFLA playoff game on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 5:30 p.m. at Percival Molson Stadium. The winner will advance to the Baggataway Cup championship, scheduled for Nov. 12-14 in the nation's capital.
REDBIRDS RAP: The loss at Queen's marked the first time this season that McGill was held to 10 goals or fewer... McGill players have combined for 16 hat-tricks in nine games this season, led by Zack Pagé (5), Liam Miletich (3), Callum Olson (3), Torsten Blodgett (2), John Miraglia (1), Jason Bonnema (1) and Tyler Miocevich (1)... Pagé has recorded four or more goals on three occasions.... McGill's eight-game winning streak was its longest since the 2024 season... The Redbirds have outscored opponents 118-78 through nine games, an average of 13.1 goals per outing.
SCORING SUMMARY
QUEEN'S 12, McGILL 10
At MikMac Field, Kingston, Ont.
NOTE:. Running scores shown after each goal.
FIRST QUARTER
-
Queen's — Kai Faller (Cam Milligan) 1:28, 1-0.
-
Queen's — Kai Faller (unassisted) 2:48, 2-0.
-
Queen's — Travis Campbell (Ryan Gonsalvez) 3:56, 3-0.
-
McGill — Liam Miletich (unassisted) 4:56, 3-1.
-
McGill — Callum Olson (John Miraglia) 5:36, 3-2.
SECOND QUARTER
-
McGill — Tyler Miocevich (Liam Miletich) 4:57, 3-3.
-
Queen's — Dean Fawthrop (Cam Milligan) 8:35 PP, 4-3.
-
McGill — Liam Miletich (unassisted) 12:02, 4-4.
-
Queen's — Cam Milligan (Dean Fawthrop) 14:29, 5-4.
-
McGill — Liam Miletich (Zack Pagé) 14:47, 5-5.
THIRD QUARTER
-
McGill — Callum Olson (Jason Bonnema) 1:16, 5-6.
-
Queen's — Ryan Gonsalvez (Tanner Harrison) 2:48, 6-6.
-
Queen's — Cam Milligan (Ryan Gonsalvez) 5:26, 7-6.
-
McGill — Jack Faller (Tyler Miocevich) 7:50, 7-7.
-
Queen's — Dean Fawthrop (unassisted) 10:47, 8-7.
-
McGill — Jason Bonnema (Liam Miletich) 13:39, 8-8.
FOURTH QUARTER
-
Queen's — Tanner Harrison (Cam Milligan) 0:33, 9-8.
-
Queen's — Tanner Harrison (unassisted) 3:00, 10-8.
-
McGill — Jason Bonnema (Jack Faller) 7:18, 10-9.
-
Queen's — Ryan Gonsalvez (unassisted) 7:38 GWG, 11-9.
-
Queen's — Ryan Gonsalvez (Tanner Harrison) 8:12, 12-9.
-
McGill — Torsten Blodgett (Liam Miletich) 12:02, 12-10.
GOALS BY QUARTER
|
Team
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
Total
|
|
McGill
|
2
|
3
|
3
|
2
|
10
|
|
Queen's
|
3
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
12
|
SHOTS BY QUARTER
|
Team
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
Total
|
|
McGill
|
5
|
7
|
5
|
7
|
24
|
|
Queen's
|
8
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
23
|
GOALTENDERS: McGill — Brennan Visokey (L), 60:00, 12 GA. Queen's — Garrett Thomson (W), 60:00, 10 GA.
PENALTIES: McGill 4; Queen's 3.
UPDATED RECORDS: McGill (8-1); Queen's (6-3).
NEXT GAMES: Bishop's at Queen's, Saturday, Oct. 31; McGill at Ottawa, Sunday, Nov. 1.
CUFLA PLAY-IN GAME: Bishop's at McGill, Sunday, Nov. 8, 5:30 p.m., Percival Molson Stadium. Winner advances to the Baggataway Cup championship, Nov. 12-14, Ottawa.
