Injury-Ridden Stingers Stumble in Official Home Opener

Women’s Hockey Team Unable to Capitalize of Numerous Chances

SportsDavid S. Landsman — Published November 11, 2013 | Updated November 12, 2013 at 3:37am

Despite playing a good game, the Stingers ended up falling 4-1 to the visiting Ottawa GeeGees.

The game started out well for the Maroon and Gold, who finally got to host a game at Ed Meagher for the first time since February of this year.

“It’s great to play there,” said fourth-year Jaymee Shell. “It’s really nice to be home again.”

The Stingers were only able to dress 10 forwards as captain Erin Lally sat out with back pain, and rookie Kerianne Schofield has yet to dress, suffering a concussion earlier in the pre-season.

“We were down to three lines plus one,” said fourth-year Alyssa Sherrard. “We were rotating and didn’t play the same lines at all during the game. That definitely threw us off our game plan.”

Concordia got on the board first when first-year left wing Anne-Julie Deschenes scored her first goal as a Stinger, potting in her own rebound past GeeGee netminder Cassie Seguin.

“It felt really good [to get the goal],” said Mont-Joli native Deschenes. “I just wish it could’ve helped more in the outcome.”

Deschenes has been coming into her own so far this season, and has already placed on the top line—something she is very happy about, though she remains humble.

“It definitely helps my personal confidence,” said Deschenes. “I’m thankful for the great opportunity.”

Late in the first was a big test for the Stingers penalty kill, having to kill off a five-on-three for one minute and 29 seconds. Stingers goaltender Carolanne Lavoie-Pilon, making her fifth straight start, shut the door the remainder of the first period, and the Stingers went to the dressing room ahead by one.

Midway through the second period, the GeeGees tied the score at one-apiece when forward Janie Paquette knocked in a rebound under Lavoie-Pilon’s glove.

The Stingers were unable to score following three straight power plays to end the second, including late in the period when sophomore forward Tracy-Ann Lavigne was robbed on the doorstep by a sprawling Seguin.

Ottawa defender Maude Laramee gave the GeeGees the lead with her own powerplay goal nearly six minutes into the third.

The Stingers had their chances, including a two-player advantage of their own, but they couldn’t muster the energy despite several chances to score.

Ottawa got yet another past Lavoie-Pilon on the advantage when she couldn’t get to the rebound, dipping them into a 3-1 hole. Lavoie-Pilon still had a solid afternoon, stopping 27 in the loss.

A timeout called by Stingers’ head coach Les Lawton didn’t work out as planned and GeeGee forward Carling Chown, faced with an empty net, nabbed her second goal of the afternoon.

Giving up three power play goals and unable to capitalize on nine chances with their own advantages was something that played a part in the defeat.

“I think we really need to work on our specialty teams,” said Sherrard. “I think we all need to sit down and check the tapes, because something isn’t going as well as planned. We should be scoring on our power plays.”

Next weekend marks the first of five games against their biggest rivals from across town as they travel to McConnell Arena to face the CIS no.1-ranked McGill Martlets on Friday evening at 7 p.m. The Stingers will then play host these same GeeGees on Sunday afternoon. Puck drop is at 3 p.m.