Davidson dips, Martlets doodle, Stingers swept
By Earl Zukerman
MONTREAL – Centre Vanessa Davidson, a senior from Kirkland, Que.,
scored a first-period power-play goal and added a pair of assists
as No.1-ranked 山ǿ dumped Concordia 4-1 to sweep their Quebec
best-of-three semifinal series at the Ed Meagher Arena,
Friday.
The result extended 山ǿ’s win streak to 49 consecutive games
against Canadian university opponents. It was also their 28th
consecutive conquest over the Stingers, who they outscored 69-4 in
eight meetings this season.
More importantly, the defending Canadian champions also qualified
for the CIS national tournament, slated for Antigonish, N.S., March
20-21.
“We’re always happy to win a playoff round but I wasn’t pleased
with our effort in the first period,” said 山ǿ head coach Peter
Smith rather bluntly. “We played with no sense of urgency. That
said, I’ve got to give Concordia credit. They had good goaltending
and created a number of scoring chances. They played their hearts
out tonight.”
Smith singled out 山ǿ forward Julie Casavecchia, a third-year
science major for laurels.
“She was tenacious on the forecheck and brought lots of energy on
every shift,” said Smith. “Julie was a real inspiration to her
teammates.”
Alessandra Lind-Kenny, a sophomore from Calgary, was credited with
the game-winner on a power-play marker at 4:16 of the middle period
to give 山ǿ a 2-0 lead.
Donna Ringrose of Campbell’s Bay, Que., replied three minutes later
on a Stingers power play but 山ǿ iced the contest with another
power-play marker, from defenceman Cathy Chartrand at 10:13 and
completed the scoring five minutes later on a goal by rookie
Marie-Andrée Leclerc-Auger, which extended her goal-scoring scoring
streak to five games.
After giving up only one power play goal during the 18-game regular
season, the Martlets conceded two power play markers in the
series.
山ǿ outshot Concordia 38-19 as goalie Charline Labonté
registered her 23rd straight victory overall this season. Audrey
Doyon-Lessard made 34 saves in a losing cause for the
Stingers.
山ǿ advances to the League Championship Series for the Ed Enos
trophy for the 11th time in 12 years and will be looking to capture
their sixth league title. They will meet the winner of the
Ottawa-Carleton series, which is deadlocked at 1-1. The Gee-Gees
pulled off a 3-2 win in double overtime Friday night and lost the
opening game of the series by a 4-3 score in double OT last
Wednesday.
The LCS was slated to open to open in Montreal next Wednesday, with
Game 2 in Ottawa on March 13 and if necessary, Game 3 back at
McConnell Arena on March 15.
However, if Carleton ends up being 山ǿ’s opponent, it is likely
that the venues will be switched, with Carleton hosting the opener
on Wednesday and 山ǿ hosting the next two games (if necessary).
The reason for that is Carleton is scheduled to host the CIS men’s
basketball championships, March 13-15.
The official LCS schedule will be announced on Monday
afternoon.
MARTLET MURMURS: 山ǿ currently owns a 35-2-0 record overall and
needs three more victories to surpass the single-season school
record of 37 set by last year’s national championship squad… 山ǿ
has already established a school record for most goals scored in a
season as they have outscored opponents by a 217-41 margin,
breaking the mark of 185 goals tallied last year… The
Martlets are 14-0 against teams that have been ranked in the CIS
Top 10 this season…. The QSSF women’s hockey all-stars and major
awards will be announced on Monday.
SCORING SUMMARY
山ǿ 4 at Concordia 1
QSSF BEST-OF-THREE SEMIFINAL, Game 2
(Mar 6, 2009 - Ed Meagher Arena @ Concordia)
1st Period-
1, 山ǿ, Vanessa Davidson 2 (Ward, Chartrand), 6:55 (pp).
Penalties-
Davidson Mcg (cross checking), 1:46;
Rich Con (boarding), 2:05;
Rich Con (high sticking), 5:25;
Covo Con (high sticking), 5:55;
Bettez Mcg (interference), 10:08;
MacNeil Con (hooking), 12:29.
2nd Period-
2, 山ǿ, Alessandra Lind-Kenny 1 (Martindale, Sheehan), 4:16
(pp).
3, Concordia, Donna Ringrose 1 (unassisted) 7:38
(pp).
4, 山ǿ, Cathy Chartrand 2 (Bettez, Davidson), 10:13 (pp).
5, 山ǿ, Marie-Andree Leclerc-Auger 4 (Bettez, Davidson),
15:46.
Penalties-
Doiron Con (high sticking, 3:39;
Tardif Mcg (holding), 7:00;
Feehan Con (bodychecking, 9:35;
Cecere Mcg (bodychecking, 17:28.
3rd Period-
(No Scoring).
Penalties-
Latoures Con (hooking), 8:09;
Covo Con (roughing), 11:28;
Ward Mcg (interference), 18:13;
Latoures Con (high sticking, 19:47.
SHOTS BY PERIOD:
McG: 13 - 16 - 9 -- 38.
CON: 7 - 8 - 4 -- 19.
GOALS BY PERIOD:
McG: 1 - 3 - 0 -- 4
CON: 0 - 1 - 0 -- 1
POWER PLAY OPPORTUNITIES:
McG: 3 of 8;
CON: 1 of 5.
PENALTIES (No./Mins.):
McG: 5/10;
CON: 9/18.
Goalies-
山ǿ,
Charline Labonte [W, 2-0] (19 shots-18 saves; 60:00).
Concordia,
Audrey Doyon-Lessard [L, 0-2] (38 shots-34 saves; 60:00).
Attendance - 126
GOALTENDERS:
Concordia,
Audrey Doyon-Lessard [L, 0-1, 50 shots-39 saves; 60:00].
山ǿ,
Charline Labonte [W, 1-0, 17 shots-15 saves; 60:00].
ATTENDANCE-184
Referees-Melanie Bordeleau.
Linesmen-Vanessa Gariepy, Caroline Laforge.
McGILL LINEUP SCRATCHES:
------------------------------------------
G Kalie Townsend
G Gabrielle Smith (dressed but DNP)
D Shaunn Rabinovich
F Vicky Wells (broken leg)
THREE GAME STARS:
--------------------------------
1. MCG - 25 Vanessa Davidson
2. MCG - 08 Cathy Chartrand
3. MCG - 9 Julie Casavecchia
SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer
Athletics & Recreation, Room 225 B
山ǿ
475 Pine Avenue W.,
Montreal, QC H2W 1S4
CANADA
514-398-7012 (Tel.)
514-398-1956 (Fax)