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Crouse double OT goal gives No. 9 Gaels series sweep over Lancers
Posted by: Shawn MacDonald (Sports Information Officer)

2/15/2014 7:45:00 PM
KINGSTON, Ont. (February 15, 2014) - The No. 9 Queen's Gaels swept their best-of-three series over the Windsor Lancers winning game two 3-2 in double overtime on a goal from Kyla Crouse (Mount Brydges, Ont.) on Saturday night at the Memorial Centre in Kingston.

Windsor put on the offensive pressure early with much of the play in the Gaels end to start the period. The OUA leading scorer Jenny MacKnight put Windsor up 1-0 on a great individual effort. After a deke around a Gaels defender she fired a shot up over the glove of Gaels starting netminder Mel Dodd-Moher (#35 Stittsville, Ont.) to put the Lancers ahead 1-0.

Minutes later the Gaels found themselves on the power play and Windsor was called for a second penalty giving the Gaels a five on three advantage for just over 30 seconds. The Gaels responded as Mary Coughlin (#24 Amherstburg, Ont.)fired a point shot and Courtenay Jacklin (#10 Regina) tipped the puck past Marissa Kozovski.

Just over five minutes later the Gaels took their first lead of the game as Megan Farrell (#16 Barrie, Ont.) made a nifty backhanded pass out front to a wide open Jessica Wakefield (#22 Lucan, Ont.) who fired a wrister top shelf above the blocker of Kozovski. The Lancers led in shots 10-7 after the opening frame.

Special teams continued to play a big role in the game in the second period. The Gaels had a four minute power play but it was Windsor's great defensive play that told the tale as they killed off the entire attack to keep themselves in the game.

Neither team was able to score in the second and both teams added another seven shots to their total.

In the third the Lancers got even as Kayla Dodson got her first of the playoffs at 14:48. The two teams headed to overtime for the first time in the series.

The Gaels had their chances in the opening frame and had a five on three power play chance later in the period. The Lancers were able to keep the game tied and force double overtime.

Queen's started up with just over a minute remaining on their power play in the second and the Lancers once again held on to kill off the penalty.

Windsor then took over offensively with the play almost entirely in the Gaels end. Dodd-Moher turned aside the Lancers and kept her team in the game however.

At 6:33 of overtime Wakefield found Crouse open in the slot and she made no mistake to give the Gaels the series sweep. Dodd-Moher finished with 23 saves for the win.

The Gaels were without their captain and leading scorer Morgan McHaffie (Guelph, Ont.) who is expected to be back for the semi-final series.