On Nov. 24, the McGill Martlets (3-5) faced off against the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees (5-2). Despite a strong third period comeback and two goals from first-year forward Kellyane Lecours, the Martlets were unable to close the deal, falling 4-3 in the shootout.

McGill had a slow start to the game, giving up two goals and 11 shots in the opening 20 minutes. Ottawa scored in the sixth minute and doubled the lead with a minute left. However, Lecours added her fourth goal of the regular season just 34 seconds later to get the Martlets on the board heading into the first intermission.

“I thought we didn’t have a great start,” Head Coach Peter Smith said. “We weren’t very good in our own end in the first period, but I thought we adjusted and I thought are second period was outstanding.”

Despite a hard fight and a number of power plays on both sides, neither team was able to score in the second period: McGill registered 18 shots on net, but none found the twine behind Ottawa goaltender Maude Levesque-Ryan.

In the third period, the Martlets’ offence finally managed to translate shots into goals. Halfway through the period, first-year forward Christiana Colizza tied the game at two apiece, converting off a pass from second-year forward Jade Downie-Landry. Lecours added her second score of the game just four minutes later to give McGill the lead. This lead, however, was foiled by second-year Gee-Gees forward Alexe Drouin, who scored a goal in the final minute of regulation to force the Martlets into overtime.

“I thought the third period was real good,” Smith said. “It’s an unfortunate third goal that we gave up, but I thought our team showed a tremendous amount of character in coming back from two goals down.”

This was the Martlets’ first time playing overtime hockey this season. USports regulations dictate two five-minute overtime periods: The first is played four-on-four, and the second is three-on-three. The two sides went scoreless through both overtime periods, despite registering four shots each. In the following shootout, strong goaltending thwarted attempts from both sides, with the deadlock lasting seven rounds before Ottawa forward Sara LaChance finally scored the decisive goal.

Second-year goaltender Tricia Deguire was outstanding throughout the game, stopping 22 of 25 shots in regulation and overtime, including a third period save in which she stretched her glove across the net to bat the puck out of harm’s way, bringing the crowd to their feet.

First-year forward Stephanie Desjardins was encouraged by her team’s performance.

“It was a really good game for both teams, but I think we showed a lot of character, and the support staff on the bench was great, so we’re definitely going to use that aspect for the rest of the season,” Desjardins said.

Next up for the Martlets is a Dec. 2 home matchup against the Université de Montreal Carabins at McConnell Arena.

Moment of the Game

In the third period, Kellyane Lecours pulled the puck to her backhand and popped it through the five hole for her second of the game.

Quotable

“This is a big part of us, working hard and coming back. We did our best tonight. We tried hard. We know that we can always be better, [and] it will come. We’re a young team, we’ll put all our heart and character into it, and it’s going to come.” Second-year goaltender Tricia Deguire on her team’s performance.

Stat Corner

The Martlets had gone 649 days since last playing in a regular season shootout on Feb. 14, 2016.