Tension was visible in both the stands and on the bench as the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees made a powerful comeback at the end of the Raven women’s hockey team’s afternoon game Jan. 24.

“As soon as they got one goal you could just feel the energy change on our bench,” said head coach Shelley Coolidge.

“When they scored the second one I talked to a few of the kids before we had our last line change and I said to them: ‘Look you just got to continue the game your playing, you need to get back on the defensive side of the puck and ship it out. You got to win battles right now. It’s not about scoring the goal, it’s about getting over the red line.’”

Despite the pressure, Carleton held on for a 3-2 victory.

The first period was scoreless but the Ravens dominated, outshooting the Gee-Gees 14-4.

The Ravens had two power plays, including one with a two-man advantage, but failed to score.

Gee-Gee goalie Stephanie Auger came up with a solid save during centre Claudia Begeron’s break away in the last few minutes of the period.

Continuing to play aggressively in the second period, the Ravens grabbed the lead with Jennifer Gordon scoring the game’s first goal, picking up a loose puck halfway through the period.

Auger continued to fight hard, deflecting Carleton’s numerous shots on the Gee-Gees’ net. 

Raven captain Tara O’Reilly lit up the scoreboard in the last 5 minutes of the second, ending the period 2-0 for Carleton.

Gordon got her second goal early in the third, scoring through the five-hole.

Late in the period it looked like Carleton had managed to fight off U of O’s two-man advantage, but as the last Raven charged out of the penalty box, Gee-Gee Blair Kitlar scored the team’s first goal of the game. 

With 41 seconds remaining, newfound confidence and an extra attacker after pulling the goalie, the Gee-Gees’ Dominique Lefebvre scored the team’s second goal of the game.

After a time out before the last few seconds of game play, the Ravens tightened their defence, ending the game 3-2 and marking their second win of the 2010 half of the season.

“There was great team chemistry on the ice. We worked really hard and the team’s energy level was really high today, which was a plus,” said Gordon, the game’s lead scorer.

The Ravens will host the McGill University Martlets Jan. 30 in the Ice House.