Resilient Stingers Prevail in Huge Shootout Win

Women’s Hockey Team Wins Two in a Row For First Time Since February 2011

SportsDavid S. Landsman — Published November 25, 2013 | Updated November 26, 2013 at 1:29am

Two years later they’ve done it again, following up a 4-2 defeat of the Gee-Gees on Nov. 17 with a 3-2 shootout win over the Carleton Ravens in Ottawa on Sunday.

“[It’s] a really big win for us, especially if you look at the standings,” said Concordia’s head coach, Les Lawton. “We’re finally starting to play with a lot of confidence. You can play to win or play to lose, and this team is definitely a team that knows they want to play to win.”

Last season their win total after 20 games was three, and this year they’ve already matched that total after eight games.

“Winning two games in a row definitely feels really good,” said Bache. “It also shows that last week wasn’t a fluke. I’m enjoying the chances to get to prove myself individually and to the team.”

Due to injuries piling up, Lawton also decided to switch up his line pairings prior to the game.

“We still haven’t played with 12 forwards,” said Lawton. “Hopefully we’ll have a healthy roster soon.”

The Stingers struck first and early on the powerplay when Danielle Scarlett finished off a solid passing play between her and Emily Even, wiring a shot that completely fooled Raven goaltender Tamber Tisdale five minutes into the contest. Tisdale appeared to be rattled, not seeing the puck zoom by her, which helped put the Stingers up by one.

“It’s a change to be winning games [with] all of us working towards a common goal,” said Scarlett. “It’s definitely really nice to see the results pay off.”

It’s especially nice for Scarlett, who, after missing the entire 2012-2013 season to injury, has amassed five points in her team’s last four games.

“Being out for an entire year has definitely made me have to work harder this year to make a comeback,” said Scarlett. “And the last three or four games have really showed me that I have more confidence in my play.”

After an unfortunate giveaway by Concordia defence Jillian Ferguson, Carleton forward Julie Vaillancourt slapped one that went five-hole through Bache’s pads to even the score before the first was done.

Midway through the second period, Stingers veteran defender Mary Jane Roper was assessed a two-minute minor for a hit to the head.

On the advantage the Ravens were able to capitalize when Kelsey Vander Veen blasted a shot past Bache, much similar to Scarlett’s goal earlier that fooled the Stingers goalie. It also didn’t hurt that Ravens captain Victoria Gouge and her 5-foot-11 frame was parked right in front of Bache.

Bache still finished the afternoon with 21 saves for her second straight win, something her coach has taken notice of.

“I’m really happy with her, the timing couldn’t be better,” said Lawton. “She did the job really well today, and we’re really confident in our goaltending whether it’s Briar or Carolanne.”

A few minutes later the Stingers were able to regroup and create a strong rush that was finished off in a goalmouth scramble and finally third-year forward Audrey Morand potted home her third of the season. The assists on the goal went to rookies Valerie Wade and Marie-Joelle Allard, each their first career points donning the Maroon and Gold.

The Stingers had their chances in the third period with a two-player advantage for one minute and 19 seconds, but were unable to beat Tisdale, who finished the afternoon with 24 saves.

After overtime solved nothing, the game went to a shootout.

After both teams exchanged goals in the first round, including a beauty top shelf shot by Stingers veteran Shell, the Ravens’ Sadie Wegner put them up by one up until the fourth round, when rookie Stinger Kerianne Schofield made a nice deke blocker, shelving it past a defenceless Tisdale.

Ravens forward Ainslee Kent, who had a hat-trick in her team’s last game, had a chance to put Carleton ahead, but Bache’s pads stopped her shot. The fate of the game lay in the hands of Sherrard, who made no mistake deking her way to lead her team to victory.

“It felt really good,” said Sherrard, following the game. “I was very nervous because I always [mess up] in shootouts.”

General manager Caitlin Booth also sees a lot of positives going down the stretch.

“You know this team this year has got a lot of heart,” said Booth. “We’re a fighting team this year. With our first winning streak in a while we’re definitely going to go up from here. We’re ready to face the top teams in the country, and this is just a stepping stone.”

The Stingers will next take on the first-place McGill Martlets Friday at McConnell Arena. Puck-drop is at 10:30 a.m.