Olympians shine as Martlets begin search for Holy Grail
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(PHOTO CAPTION: Laurier captain Abby Rainsberry battles for the puck in front of Charline Labonte (Photo by Adam Gagnon, courtesy of WLU Athletics)
WATERLOO, Ont. - A shootout goal by senior Jordanna Peroff of Keswick, Ont., proved to be the difference as visiting McGill opened their preseason schedule with a 3-2 victory over Laurier in a clash of the titans between two of the top CIS women's hockey teams, Saturday, at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex.
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The game featured a duel between two of the best goaltenders in CIS history, with two-time Olympic gold medalist Charline Labonte in goal for McGill and Laurier's Liz Knox, the reigning CIS women's hockey player of the year. Labonte has a 2-0 record in head-to-head match-ups with Knox in the CIS national championship game.
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Peroff's goal, on McGill's third attempt in the shootout, was buttressed by a goal from freshman Katia Clement-Heydra of St. Bruno de Montarville, Que., as the Martlets claimed the penalty-shot session 2-0.
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Labonte stymied all four Laurier marksmen in the shootout to win her first start at the CIS level since leading the Martlets to the CIS national title in 2009. The senior netminder from Boisbriand, Que., shone like her gold medals, making 33 saves in regulation time as the Hawks outshot McGill 35-19. Knox, who hails from Stouffville, Ont., made 17 saves and was saddled with the loss.
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Ann-Sophie Bettez of Sept-Iles, Que., opened the scoring for the Martlets at 4:08 of the first period. She picked up the puck and fired it to the stick-side of Knox. The Hawks answered less than three minutes later when rookie Laura Brooker of Fergus, Ont., redirected the puck off her skate to beat a McGill defender before shooting it past Labonte.
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Gillian Ferrari, a first-year rearguard from Thornhill, Ont., who captured Olympic gold at the 2006 Games in Turin, put McGill ahead with her first-ever CIS goal on a 4-on-3 power play at 11:07.
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Laurier held McGill without a shot on net from 11:07 in the first period until 9:50 in the second period, leading to the equalizer from Fiona Lester of Peterborough, Ont., at 8:49. The sophomore defender pinched in from the blueline and scored after jumping on a loose puck in a goal-mouth scramble. That goal awoke the Martlets from their slumberous start but they ran into penalty trouble, drawing six consecutive minors.
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Laurier had a great scoring opportunity with the man-advantage in the final stanza when Candice Styles of Orangeville, Ont., took a pass in close on Labonte, who made a great pad save. McGill ended up killing off all six Laurier power plays.
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In overtime McGill freshman Leslie Oles of Beaconsfield, Que., had a chance to end it early with a breakaway but Knox stopped her with a pad save to preserve the 2-2 score.
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In the shootout, Peroff made a nifty move and beat Knox with a backhand shot to put the Martlets ahead. Styles tried to slip the puck under Labonte but she stood her ground and turned away the shot. Clement-Heydra turned up the pressure by scoring on Knox with a quick stop and backhand.Ìý Brooker was unable to beat Labonte with her chance.
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The Martlets play at Guelph on Sunday, while Laurier will host the Toronto Jr. Aeros on Sept. 22.
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SCORING SUMMARY
McGill 3, Laurier 2 (OTS)
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FIRST PERIOD
1. McGILL: Ann-Sophie Bettez (Lisa Zane), 4:08
2. LAURIER: Laura Brooker (unassisted), 6:51
3. McGILL: Gillian Ferrari (Ann-Sophie Bettez), 11:07 (PP)
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Penalties:
LAURIER: Devon Skeats (hook), 9:33
LAURIER: Maureen Mommersteen (rough), 10:15
MCGILL: Katia Clement-Heydra (body-check), 10:29
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SECOND PERIOD
4. LAURIER: Fiona Lester (Heather Fortuna, Amber Broker), 8:49
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Penalties:
MCGILL: Lainie Smith (hook), 1:56
MCGILL: Leslie Oles (board), 11:59
MCGILL: Leslie Oles (body-check), 19:02
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THIRD PERIOD
(no scoring)
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Penalties:
MCGILL: Cathy Chartrand (hook), 5:00
MCGILL: Leslie Oles (hold), 6:49
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OVERTIME (5 mins., 4-on-4)
(no scoring)
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Penalties:
(none)
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SHOOTOUT
1.McGILL: Ann-Sophie Bettez Ìýfailed to score on Liz Knox
2.LAURIER: Heather Fortuna Ìýfailed to score on Charline Labonte
3.McGILL: Leslie Oles Ìýfailed to score on Liz Knox
4.LAURIER: Devon Skeats Ìýfailed to score on Charline Labonte
5.McGILL: Jordanna Peroff SCORED on Liz Knox
6.LAURIER: Candice Styles failed to score on Charline Labonte
7.McGILL: Katia Clement-Heydra SCORED on Liz Knox
8.LAURIER: Laura Brooker failed to score on Charline Labonte
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GOALTENDERS:
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McGILL: Charline Labonte (W, 2GA, 33 saves, 65:00)
LAURIER: Liz Knox (L, 2GA, 17 saves, 65:00)
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SHOTS BY PERIOD:
McGill: ÌýÌýÌýÌý5-7-4-3-(1)Ìý -- 20
Laurier: 10-12-12-1-(0) -- 35
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GOALS BY PERIOD:
McGill:Ìý 2-0-0-0-(2) - 3
Laurier: 1-1-0-0-(0) -- 2
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PENALTIES (No./Mins.)
McGill:Ìý 6/12
Laurier: 2/4
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POWER PLAYS (Goals/Chances)
McGill:Ìý 1/2
Laurier: 0/6
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ATTENDANCE: na
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START: 7:33
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END: 9:39
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TIME: 2:06
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REFEREE: Theresa Llorente
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McGILL LINEUP SCRATCHES
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G: Andrea Weckman (dressed but DNP)
G: Taylor Salisbury
D: Michelle Daigneault
F: Alessandra Lind-Kenny
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SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman, McGill Athletics & Recreation, 514-398-7012
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and
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Mike Whitehouse, Laurier Athletics & Recreation