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By Earl Zukerman

MONTREAL – Ann-Sophie Bettez of Sept-Iles, Que., and Marie-Andrée Leclerc-Auger of Sherbrooke each registered hat-tricks as No.1-ranked McGill crushed Concordia 11-2 to win the opener of a QSSF women’s hockey best-of-three semifinal series at McConnell Arena, Wednesday.

The Martlets, who won for the 27th consecutive time against their cross-town rivals, also extended their win streak against Canadian university opponents to 48 games.

The 11 markers established a McGill record for most goals scored in a playoff contest, surpassing a pair of 8-1 offensive displays against Ottawa (March 9, 2007) and Concordia (Feb. 22, 2008).

Bettez, who finished second in the nation in scoring, also had a pair of assists and joined teammate Vanessa Davidson (1-4-5) as the first two McGill players ever to register a five-point game in post-season play. Leclerc-Auger finished the night with four points.

Rounding out the scoring for McGill was Rebecca Martindale of Kingston, Ont., Julie Casavecchia of Montreal, Jordanna Peroff of Keswick, Ont., Vanessa Davidson of Kirkland, Que., and rearguard Cathy Chartrand of Lac Nominingue, Que.

McGill led 4-2 after the opening period, 9-2 after two and outshot the Stingers 50-17, with goaltender Charline Labonté picking up the win and Audrey Doyon-Lessard taking the loss. The Martlets went 5-for-8 on the power play, while Concordia was 1-for-4.

Montrealer Catherine Desjardins, a rearguard opened the scoring at 3:28 of the opening period, ending Labonté’s shutout sequence against Concordia at 202 minutes and 20 seconds. Mallory Lawton, a freshman from Dorval, Que., and daughter of Stingers head coach Les Lawton, also tallied for the Stingers.

Game 2 of the series will be on Friday (7:30 p.m.) at Concordia’s Ed Meagher Arena. If a deciding game is needed, it will revert back to McConnell Arena on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.

In the other semifinal opener, Jennifer Gordon scored at 27:11 of overtime as visiting Carleton upset Ottawa 2-1.

MARTLET MURMURS: The two-goal outburst by Concordia double their regular season totals as the Stingers had been outscored 54-1 in six games… Concordia went 1-for-4 on the power play in the game… It marked only the sixth power play goal given up by the Martlets, who have now killed off 132 of 138 in 36 games overall for a success rate of 95.7 per cent.



SCORING SUMMARY

Concordia 2 at McGill 11

QSSF BEST-OF-THREE SEMIFINAL, Game 1

(Mar 4, 2009 at McConnell Arena)


FIRST PERIOD:
1, Concordia, Catherine Desjardins 1   3:28 (pp).
2, McGill, Marie-Andree Leclerc-Auger 1 (Chartrand, Ward), 4:40 (pp).
3, McGill, Rebecca Martindale 1 (Peroff, Sheehan), 8:31 (pp).
4, McGill, Ann-Sophie Bettez 1 (Davidson, Zane), 10:41.
5, McGill, Marie-Andree Leclerc-Auger 2 (Davidson), 16:35.
6, Concordia, Mallory Lawton 1 (MacNeil), 16:54.

Penalties-
Smith Mcg (hooking), 1:58;
MacNeil Con (hooking), 4:20;
Desjardins Con (holding), 7:02;
Davidson Mcg (tripping), 14:10.


SECOND PERIOD:
7, McGill, Ann-Sophie Bettez 2 (Leclerc-Auger, Davidson), 0:20.
8, McGill, Ann-Sophie Bettez 3 (Davidson, Sheehan), 5:17 (pp).
9, McGill, Julie Casavecchia 1 (Smith), 7:21.
10, McGill, Marie-Andree Leclerc-Auger 3 (Bettez, Chartrand), 10:02 (pp).
11, McGill, Cathy Chartrand 1 (Bettez), 14:03 (pp).

Penalties-
Soberano Mcg (roughing), 0:30;
Latoures Con (interference), 2:21;
Feehan Con (slashing), 4:15;
Ringrose Con (bodychecking), 8:06;
MacNeil Con (tripping), 13:25;
George Con (tripping), 14:10;
Tardif Mcg (roughing), 18:37.

THIRD PERIOD:
12, McGill, Jordanna Peroff 1 (Martindale, Sheehan), 4:55.
13, McGill, Vanessa Davidson 1 (Ward), 11:14.

Penalties-
Feehan Con (bodychecking), 8:35.


SHOTS BY PERIOD:
ConU 9-4-4 -- 17.
McGill 15-17-18 -- 50.

GOALS BY PERIOD:
ConU 2-0-0 -- 2
McGill 4-5-2 -- 11

POWER PLAY OPPORTUNITIES:
ConU 1 of 4;
McGill 5 of 8.

PENALTIES (No./Mins.):
ConU 8/16;
McGill 4/8.


GOALTENDERS:

Concordia,
Audrey Doyon-Lessard [L, 0-1, 50 shots-39 saves].

McGill,
Charline Labonte [W, 1-0, 17 shots-15 saves].

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 - 24 Ann-Sophie Bettez
2. MCG - 22 Marie-Andree Leclerc-Auger
3. MCG - 25 Vanessa Davidson



SOURCE:

Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer
Athletics & Recreation, Room 225 B
Ï㽶ÊÓƵ
475 Pine Avenue W.,
Montreal, QC H2W 1S4
CANADA
514-398-7012 (Tel.)
514-398-1956 (Fax)