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By Earl Zukerman

MONTREAL – Defenceman Jasmine Sheehan tallied twice in 36 seconds and forward Marie-Andree Leclerc-Auger added a goal and two helpers as McGill crushed Concordia 6-0 to close out regular season play Saturday, in the Quebec university women’s hockey league at McConnell Arena.

The Martlets (18-0), who became the first Quebec team to post back-to-back perfect seasons, extended their win streak to 47 consecutive contests against CIS opponents. It also marked their 26th straight victory over Concordia, dating back to a 2-1 road loss on Feb. 5, 2006.

McGill connected on four of nine power plays and outshot the Stingers 45-12.

Sheehan, an education junior from Mississauga, who was credited with the game-winner, netted power play markers at 3:24 and 4:00 of the opening period.

Leclerc-Auger, a freshman from Sherbrooke, finished second in the league scoring race and fourth among CIS points leaders with an 18-28-46 record in only 18 games.

Goaltender Charline Labonté of Boisbriand, Que., posted her ninth shutout in 15 league starts this season and her 52nd career whitewash in 110 games overall. Labonté, who also stops pucks for the national team, led all CIS netminders in goals-against average (0.60) and save percentage (.966). She was tied for second in shutouts and ranked fifth in wins.

Stingers goalie Audrey Doyon-Lessard made 29 saves and took the loss, falling to 3-10-0.

The Martlets also got power play goals from sophomores Alessandra Lind-Kenny of Calgary and Ann-Sophie Bettez of Sept-Iles, Que., plus an even-strength marker from Alexandra Wells, a sophomore from Oshawa.

The McGill women will open pursuit of the league’s Ed Enos trophy when they open a best-of-three conference semifinal series against the fourth-place Stingers (3-13-2) on Wednesday (7 p.m.) at McConnell Arena. Game 2 is slated for the Ed Meagher Arena on Friday and if necessary, a third game is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at McConnell.

The Martlets swept all six encounters with their Sherbrooke Street rivals, outscoring Concordia by a suffocating 54-1 margin.

The other Quebec semifinal series also features a cross-town rivalry with second-place Ottawa (8-8-2) and third-place Carleton (7-11-0). The two QSSF finalists will each receive a berth at the national championships in Antigonish, N.S., March 18-21.

MARTLET MURMURS: Bettez won the QSSF scoring crown and finished second in the nation, establishing single-season league records for goals (24), assists (30) and points (54)… Catherine Ward, a junior from Town of Mt. Royal, Que., collected a pair of assists to finish with 3-21-24 in just 14 games. She led all rearguards across the country in points per game (3.0) and ended up tied for second in total points, just two in arrears of Laurier’s Andrea Bevan, who played 12 more contests. Cathy Chartrand, who missed the final three contests while playing for Canada at the world university games in China, lead all CIS defenders in goals with nine… Chartrand, along with fellow Team Canada teammates Alyssa Cecere, Carly Hill and Vanessa Davidson, are scheduled to return from China on Monday and despite the jet-lag, are expected to suit up for McGill in their playoff opener two days later.


SCORING SUMMARY

Concordia 0 at McGill 6

(Feb 28, 2009 - McConnell Arena @ McGill)


FIRST PERIOD:
1, McGill, Jasmine Sheehan 4 (Ward), 3:24 (pp).
2, McGill, Jasmine Sheehan 5 (Leclerc-Auger, Tardif), 4:00 (pp).
3, McGill, Alessandra Lind-Kenny 8 (Soberano, Zane), 9:13 (pp).

Penalties-
Feehan Con (interference), 1:57;
OShea Con (hooking), 3:02;
Latoures Con (bodychecking), 8:39;
Bench Con (served by Lawton), 9:48;
Wells Mcg (inter. on goaltender), 10:34; Rabinovich Mcg (cross checking), 12:55.


SECOND PERIOD:
4, McGill, Ann-Sophie Bettez 24 (Leclerc-Auger, Peroff), 0:25 (pp).
5, McGill, Alexandra Wells 1 (Zane, Ward), 16:39.

Penalties-
Bench Con (served by May; delay of game), 0:00;
Smith Mcg (tripping), 5:14;
OShea Con (hooking), 6:23;
George Con (holding), 8:03;
Ward Mcg (tripping), 8:36;
Rancourt Con (tripping), 8:54;
Wells Mcg (hooking), 12:08.


THIRD PERIOD:
6, McGill, Marie-Andree Leclerc-Auger 18 (Bettez, Peroff), 12:59.

Penalties-
Lawton Con (high sticking), 3:01;
Leclerc-Auger Mcg (cross checking), 15:49.

SHOTS BY PERIOD-
Con 5-4-3 -- 12.
McG 15-17-13 -- 45.

GOALS BY PERIOD-
Con 0-0-0 -- 0.
McG 3-2-1 -- 6.

POWER PLAY OPPORTUNITIES-
Concordia 0 of 6;
McGill 4 of 9.

PENALTIES (No./Mins)-
Concordia 9/18;
McGill 6/12.

GOALTENDERS-

Concordia,
Audrey Doyon-Lessard [L, 3-10-0, 45 shots, 39 saves].

McGill,
Charline Labonte [W, 15-0-0, 12 shots, 12 saves; SHO].

Attendance-271

Referee-Sergine Bouchard.


McGILL LINEUP SCRATCHES:
-----------------------------------
G Kalie Townsend
G Gabrielle Smith (dressed but DNP)
D Cathy Chartrand (at World University Games)
F Alyssa Cecere (at World University Games)
F Vanessa Davidson (at World University Games)
F Caroline Hill (at World University Games)


THREE GAME STARS:
1. MCG - 18 Jasmine Sheehan
2. MCG - 22 Marie-Andree Leclerc-Auger
3. MCG - 10 Jordanna Peroff



SOURCE:

Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer
Dept. of 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)