It was a bitter pill to swallow for the Carleton Ravens women’s hockey team Nov. 21, as they suffered a tough 3-2 shootout loss to the Université de Montréal Carabins at the Ice House.
The Ravens were playing their first game in two weeks and had their work cut out for them against the Carabins team which was eyeing top spot in the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) standings.
An evenly fought encounter was decided by a shootout which eventually saw defenceman Stephanie Daneau score the game-winning goal for the Montreal outfit.
However, the Ravens didn’t believe the game should have even reached the shootout.
With the score even at two, the Ravens thought they scored the game-winner in overtime on a delayed Carabins’ penalty, but it was disallowed due to the puck being tipped-in with a high stick.
Ravens head coach Shelley Coolidge said she was not pleased with the call.
“I am not happy about the high sticking call on that disallowed goal,” Coolidge said. “Video replay would have helped us on that one.”
With neither team being able to break the deadlock in the extra frame, the game headed into a shootout. Six shooters were needed, but when Daneau shelved her wrist shot underneath the crossbar, beating first-year goaltender Tamber Tisdale, the Carabins celebrated a tense win.
“It was a tough loss,” Coolidge said. “We had opportunities to win the game and have to capitalize when we have the chance. Our penalty kill was exceptional tonight, but we didn’t create enough chances on our power plays. I also feel we gave the puck away too often on our power play.”
The opening frame got off to a scrappy start with players from both teams spending time in the penalty box.
The Carabins dominated much of the early stages of the game, moving the puck well, but they couldn’t translate their pressure into a goal, with the first period ending scoreless.
Both teams found momentum in the second period, but it was the Ravens who opened the scoring when defenceman Blaire Macdonald poked in a loose puck in the crease to get the Ravens on the board five minutes into the frame.
A phase of dominance ensued for the Ravens as they passed the puck well and tested Carabins goaltender Katrina Giuliani. Brittany Simpson almost doubled the Ravens lead, whistling her snap shot inches over the crossbar.
Despite the Ravens momentum, the Carabins produced an equalizer thanks to a beautiful goal from Kim Deschenes. After cutting in from the left wing, Deschenes pulled off a nifty deke and roofed a backhand into the net, leaving Tisdale with no chance.
Soon after, the Carabins were celebrating their first lead of the game after a giveaway in front allowed Caroline Martin-Guay to bury her snapshot from up-close.
It was a short-lived lead, however, as Ravens forward Kaila Lassline evened the score at 2-2 only 30 seconds later.
The Carabins had a golden chance to finish the game off in the dying stages of regular time when they went on a two-man advantage for more than a minute. But Tisdale’s strong play and a fortuitous crossbar helped the Ravens keep their opponents at bay.
With the loss, the Ravens remain in the RSEQ’s basement with five points in seven games. They will be hoping to snap their five game losing streak when they take on the undefeated McGill Martlets and the second-place Carabins this weekend at the Ice House.