Abir Shah

Abir Shah

Armed with a handful of new recruits and an added year of maturity, the McGill Martlets are seeking retribution and another shot at a National Championship.  

The Martlets were back in action against Concordia, at home at Percival Molson Stadium Friday night, for the first time since their crushing 2010 season-ending playoff defeat. McGill entered the week ranked seventh in the country according to the first run of CIS rankings. By all accounts, the Martlets were the favourites in this matchup. The pre-match odds proved correct, as the Martlets dominated the Stingers in both possession and goals in a thrilling 3-1 victory in the home opener.

The match began under positive and sporting circumstances as McGill Head Coach Marc Mounicot and Jorge Sanchez of Concordia went shoeless as a show of support for Right to Play, an organisation focused on giving underprivileged youth an opportunity to participate in sports.

Following the pre-match pleasantries, McGill was anything but friendly to the visiting side, taking only 45 seconds to deliver the first quality chance of the contest.  The Martlets’ captain, star striker Alexandra Morin-Boucher, slipped past the sleeping Stingers’ defence and alone against the keeper, but delivered her right-footed chip just wide of the goalmouth.

McGill continued to apply pressure into the middle portion of the first half. The Martlets claimed several chances off of lively give-and-go passing up the left wing from Kathleen Wakeling and Jenna Holdham, but lacked the finishing touch to put the ball in the goal. This all changed in the 27th minute of play. An expert corner kick from rookie Alexandria Hoyte found the head of Rebecca Green, who calmly placed it beyond the keeper and into the back of the net. But following a phantom foul call by the referee that saw the goal disallowed, the Martlets again found themselves knotted at nil with the pesky Stingers.

It seemed destined to remain this way as the first half waned into its final minutes, with McGill dominating the possession but remaining scoreless. Finally, with only six minutes left in the first half, Kathleen Wakeling changed from supplier to scorer in a brilliant display of determination and skill. Streaking past her mark, she beat three hard fought tackles that ultimately rewarded her with an open shot on net—which she coolly used to snipe the top right corner of the webbing, just past the outstretched fingers of the Concordia keeper.  The first half ended with the score 1-0 McGill.

The crowd grew steadily during the half-time exposition and perhaps this played upon the nerves of the players, as the beginning of the second half was marred by sloppy touches and errant passes.  It was Concordia who made the most of it, gaining their equaliser 68 minutes into play off a header from captain Jennifer Duff.

The surprising goal seemed to revive the dozing Martlets, and their play improved in response. A torrent of activity and chances culminated in the go-ahead goal, this time courtesy of a scorcher off the left boot of second-year midfielder Selena Colarossi.  From that point on it was all Martlets, who finished the game off in style with an injury-time goal that truly sealed Concordia’s fate.   

The Martlets followed up Friday’s win with a road victory at Laval, which placed them atop the Quebec table alongside cross-town rivals, the Montreal Carabins.  McGill is back in town on Friday at 6:30 p.m., taking on Sherbrooke.