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Martlets tame Pandas to get monkey off back at Nationals

Published: 10 March 2011

(PHOTO OF LESLIE OLES BY DEREK DRUMMOND)

WATERLOO - Rookie forward Leslie Oles of Beaconsfield , Que., scored once and set up the game-winner as top-ranked McGill finally got the monkey off their back with a 4-2 win over sixth-seeded Alberta top open the CIS women's hockey championships at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex, Thursday.

It marked McGill's fourth win in 12 lifetime meetings with Alberta but more importantly, their first conquest over the Pandas in seven tries at the Nationals and avenged a 2-0 loss in last year's final. The Martlets, who upped their season record to 31-0 against CIS opponents overall, can advance to Sunday's gold medal final with a win versus Queen's on Saturday at 4 p.m.

"It was an emotional win for the girls in our room," said Peter Smith, in his 11th season as head coach of the Martlets. "We had a lot of players (15) in there that lost to Alberta in the gold medal final last year. It was a good win for them to get past that."

McGill, one of the top-scoring teams in the nation, had a nervous start but finally broke the ice at 19:21 of the opening period when Caroline Hill, a fifth-year veteran from Dorval, Que., tallied a power-play goal.

Oles added another power-play marker at 3:01 of the middle stanza to give the Martlets a 2-0 lead.

After Alberta's Karla Bourque narrowed the gap to 2-1 on the power-play five minutes later, Oles then set up a goal by sophomore Chelsey Saunders of Ottawa at 18:53, to help McGill regain a two-goal cushion. The 5-foot-2 physical education freshman also used her speed to draw three Alberta penalties and was named as McGill's player of the game.

"She kept her feet moving and used her speed, which forced Alberta to play the body and take penalties," said Smith. "She was definitely a spark-plug for us."

McGill ran into penalty trouble in the final period, drawing three minors in a four-minute span, which led to Leah Copeland connecting on a 5-on-3 power-play to make the score 3-2 with just over 11 minutes remaining.

Kim Ton-That, a sophomore from Beaconsfield, Que., iced the contest with an empty-netter at 19:08.

“It was a good battle out there for both teams — definitely from Alberta. They came out hard and gave us a good challenge,” Oles said on the Streaming Sports Network broadcast after being named player of the game along with Bourke from the Pandas.

Both players led their teams with a goal and an assist.

“That first victory is huge,” said Oles. "I mean, I’m a rookie, but I heard from my teammates that this is kind of like the final game where Alberta and McGill have met in the last few years. It was nice to get that first win under the belt.”

McGill had a 32-16 edge in shots as senior Charline Labonté of Boisbriand, Que., registered the win, improving to 9-1 lifetime at the Nationals. Pandas netminder Kanesa Shwetz was credited with 25 saves and took the loss.

The Martlets (1-0) earn a day off with the victory, while Alberta (0-1) will play Queen's on Friday at 4 p.m.

SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
McGill Athletics & Recreation
514-398-7012

SCORING SUMMARY

McGill 4 at Alberta 2

(Thursday, March 10, 2011 - Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex)


1st Period-
1, McGill, Hill 1 (Bettez, Chartrand), 19:21 (PP).

Penalties-
Pratt Alb (hooking), 9:54;
Daigneault Mcg (tripping), 15:23;
Copeland Alb (roughing), 18:19.

2nd Period-
2, McGill, Oles 1 (Peroff, Ton-That), 3:01 (PP).
3, Alberta, Bourke 1 (Grandinetti), 7:50 (PP).
4, McGill, Saunders 1 (Oles, Chartrand), 18:53.

Penalties-
Stewart Alb (tripping), 1:36;
Copeland Alb (body-checking), 4:06;
Oles Mcg (hooking), 5:44;
Cecere Mcg (hooking), 6:34;
Boras Alb (holding), 9:18.

3rd Period-
5, Alberta, Copeland 1 (Buss), 8:56 (PP).
6, McGill, Ton-That 1 (Peroff, Lind-Kenny), 19:08 (EN).

Penalties-
Copeland Alb (body-checking), 3:12;
Crampton Mcg (slashing), 6:46;
Chartrand Mcg (tripping), 7:07;
Ferrari Mcg (hooking), 9:52;
Lavallee Alb (cross checking), 13:11.

GOALS BY PERIODL
McGill 1-2-1 -- 4
Alberta 0-1-1 -- 2

Shots on Goal-
McGill 10-16-6 -- 32.
Alberta 5-5-6 -- 16.

Power Play Opportunities-
McGill 2 / 7;
Alberta 2 / 6.

Penalties (No/Mins):
McGill 6 / 12;
Alberta 7 / 14.

Goalies-
McGill,
Charline Labonte (W, 1-0, 16 shots-14 saves; 60:00).

Alberta,
kanesa Shwetz (start, L, 0-1, 31 shots-28 saves; 59:11);
Empty-net (1 goal, 1 shot; 0:49).

Attendance-325

Referees-Meghan Mallette.

Linesmen-Vanessa Stratton, Jennifer McMahon.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME:
McGill: Leslie Oles
Alberta: Karla Bourque

SCHEDULE, RESULTS & POOL STANDINGS

NOTE 1: All games webcast live by SSN Canada on

NOTE 2: All games at Waterloo Memorial Recreational Complex

POOL A GP W L GF GA PTS

1. McGill 1 1 0 4 2 2

2. Queen*s 0 0 0 0 0 0

3. Alberta 1 0 1 2 4 2

POOL B GP W L GF GA PTS

1. StFX 1 1 0 4 3 2

2. Manitoba 0 0 0 0 0 0

3. Laurier 1 0 1 3 4 2

Thursday, March 10

16:00 Pool A #1: No. 6 Alberta vs. No. 1 McGill 19:30 Pool B #1: No. 5 Laurier vs. No. 2 StFX

Friday, March 11

16:00 Pool A #2: Alberta vs. No. 4 Queen*s 19:30 Pool B #2: Laurier vs. No. 3 Manitoba

Saturday, March 12

16:00 Pool A #3: McGill vs. No. 4 Queen*s 19:30 Pool B #3: StFX vs. No. 3 Manitoba

Sunday, March 13

12:00 5th Place

16:00 Bronze

19:30 Final

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