Women’s Hockey: Blanked by Blue and White

Stingers Lose 3-0 to the UdeM Carabins

SportsDavid S. Landsman — Published November 24, 2014 | Updated November 25, 2014 at 2:52am

“Our team performances have been great all year,” said Stingers’ head coach Les Lawton. “We’re having a bit of trouble getting the results, but we’re playing with the best teams in the country. By no means are we disappointed with our team.”

The first period saw a lot of back-and-forth action with both teams getting equal opportunities. However both goaltenders were up to the challenge, keeping the game scoreless.

“We’re really happy where we are at as a team,” said Lawton. “We just know that we can get the results we want.”

The second period saw a lot of strong plays at either end with the Stingers penalty killing units having to work extra hard but also managing to kill off three straight penalties in the period.

Towards the end of the period, Stingers’ forward forward Marie-Pier Cloutier was denied twice in close by Marie-Pier Chabot.

At the end of the second period, both teams were in a scoreless tie. The shots were 20-19 in favour of Montreal.

The stalemate finally ended just under two minutes into the third, when Montreal forward Laurie Mercier took the puck from behind the net, spun and shot the puck five-hole past a screened Briar Bache.

The Carabins would double their lead with a power play goal nearly identical to their first. Maude Gélinas got credit for the goal.

With two minutes left in the game, Bache was pulled in favour of an extra attacker, which led to Montreal getting an empty-net goal and sealing the win.

“We can’t win games if we don’t score goals,” said third-year forward Tracy-Ann Lavigne. “I think our confidence level is pretty high even though we aren’t able to put the puck in the net. We are playing really good defensively and offensively as well […] I’m sure the goals will come soon enough it’s just a matter of time.”

For Stingers rookie Véronique Boudreau, Sunday’s game marked her first game of the season with the Stingers as she sat out with a contusion in her lower back.

“It feels good to be back out there, I’m still gaining my confidence back,” said Boudreau. “It’s a faster game at this level. I would like to eventually get a role with this team. Working hard will get me there.”

The Stingers will play the Ottawa Gee-Gees on Friday, Nov. 28 and their crosstown rivals, the McGill Martlets, on Sunday, Nov. 30, in their final games before the upcoming Christmas break.