OTTAWA, ON – The Carleton Ravens women’s hockey team has started 2021-2022 on a high, with a pair of wins but a matchup on Friday night against a familiar foe from 2019-2020 served to remind the Ravens there is work to be done as the RSEQ season slowly gets underway.
Coming into the first of five matchups this season against Montreal, Carleton looked to add to its hot start after defeating Bishop’s 3-1 and, more recently, Ottawa 3-0 last weekend. Last season, Montreal decisively won 4 of 5 in the season series as the only loss to Carleton was a 1-0 double-overtime loss.
Through two games, Carleton’s defence has been great, allowing only one goal and getting lots of support from the offence as scoring 6. Unfortunately, on this night, it appeared the early season magic had run out.
Carleton’s great defence took a blow early on as three minutes into the 1st period on a misplay by Ravens goalkeeper Marie-Eve Cote, Carabins forward Marie Terriault managed to slip it home to give Montreal the early 1-0 lead.
Carleton had a great response after the goal as they established offensive zone pressure, but an absolute wall of Montreal Carabins blocked most of the Raven’s scoring chances.
The Ravens would have two powerplays to tie up the game, but Montreal would get in the shooting lanes and kill off both powerplay opportunities. Carleton may have finished the 1st period with five total shots on goal, but Montreal blocked many of those shot attempts.
It just seemed like the Carabins were always one step ahead of the Ravens on the night. During the 2nd period, the Carabins controlled much of the play. With traffic in front of Cote, Carabins D Audrey Gervais sent the puck low-glove and past Cote to double their lead and make it 2-0. Carleton would get their fair share of scoring chances, but it would be one-and-done rushes, and not much sustained pressure in the offensive zone. The Carabins played a sound defensive system on the night, keeping the Raven’s offensive zone time to a minimum, and when the Ravens did enter the zone, the puck was kept to the perimeter.
Things would only get worse for the Ravens as 1:20 into the 3rd period, Carabins F Raphaelle Pouliot jammed home the puck to make it 3-0 on a net-front scramble.
Fortune would be on the Raven’s side as they received a four-minute powerplay, but the only thing that came from it was a Carabins goal. Audrey-Anne Veillette scored shorthanded after a created turnover in the Ravens defensive zone to make it 4-0. Veillette added some salt to the wound as she scored her 2nd of the game to make it 5-0.
Sydney Berta helped the Ravens and ruined Maude Trevisan’s shutout bid as she scored her first-ever U SPORTS goal with one minute left in the game.
The Ravens dropped their 1st game of the season 5-1. Their next game is Sunday at 7 pm against McGill.
Pags’ Points
- Defence: Carleton needs to do a better job of defending the rush. It was far too easy for the Carabins to set up in the offensive zone and start the cycle game.
- Powerplay: is more like a power outage. Carleton had five powerplays and did not do much with them. To make matters worse for the Ravens the 4-0 goal was scored shorthanded.
- Marie-Eve Cote. Despite all the negatives, hockey teams like to focus on the positives, and she was one of the few positives. Cote had a stellar game doing her best to keep the game within reach, but unfortunately, the offence dried up for the Ravens.
- Turnovers. There were times were Carleton would get time in the offensive zone but were limited as Montreal quickly broke the puck out due to a Ravens turnover.
COVER PHOTO: Carleton Atheltics