MONTREAL - The Carleton Ravens and head coach Stacey Colarossi have their first win of the 2022-23 season after a convincing 4-2 win at McGill.
The Ravens' win breaks a streak of 1,090 days since the Ravens last beat McGill - a 4-3 road win that occured almost three full years ago.
The Ravens' offence was on full display in the first period as the team opened the game with an impressive opening five minutes on the forecheck and were quickly rewarded with a lead.
"Our first period was a great period for us," explained coach Colarossi. "I gave them a few tangible and measurable goals and we hit all three of them."
The Ravens not only got on the scoreboard first, but they outshot the Martlets while being plus-one on the penalty kill. Cecilia Lopez opened the scoring for the Ravens early in the first after a strong sequence helped the Ravens to find their rhythm offensively. Stephanie Keeper would quickly respond for McGill before Victoria Bullock scored a short-handed goal less than two minutes later to restore the lead.
Before the end of the period, Lopez would connect with Unis-Thibeau on the eventual game-winner. Outshooting the Martlets 13-10 in the first the Ravens had a near picture perfect start to their road trip.
McGill responded well in the second, hemming Carleton into their zone for long stretches of play. A tighter checking forecheck held the Ravens to just two shots in the second, a season-low for Carleton.
"They modified their forecheck and we just spent way too much time in our own end," explained Colarossi.
The Ravens and Martlets would exchange goals in the third period but Marie-Eve Cote would hold the fort the rest of the way as the Ravens beat McGill.
Next up, the Ravens welcome the Concordia Stingers to the Ice House on Sunday afternoon. "We need to watch the first minutes of the game, how we hemmed them in and really frustrated them."
