The Carleton Ravens did everything they could in the hunt for the final RSEQ playoff spot on Sunday night scoring a 27-17 win over Montreal.
A late try from Ottawa’s Charlotte Ross could prove to be so much more than insurance in the Ravens playoff chase as the 72nd minute score put Carleton ahead by 10 to prevent Montreal from recording an important bonus point.
The Ravens opened the scoring early in the first half when Carolyn Forster (Holland Landing, Ont.) finished breaking down the Carabins goal line defence for the opening score just three minutes into the contest. Carleton wouldn’t wait long to score again as Charlotte Ross took off on a 25-yard run before being tripped up three yards out. Ember Warren (Truro, NS) would quickly swoop in, picking the ball off the heels of the ruck and plunging to the left to record the Ravens second try of the afternoon.
Carleton would score again just ten minutes later. After being stopped twice on the goal line, the Ravens would quickly fire the ball out wide to the right with Zoey O’Connor (Grafton, Ont.) flying down the wing for the score. The Ravens weren’t done there, just three minutes later Sierra Hasse (St. Lazarre, Que.) erupted through the Montreal defense at mid-field before running all the way for the score. With a bonus point secured, Carleton was quickly caught off guard by a resurgent Montreal attack.
Before the half would end, Montreal’s Daphné Beauchamp would break over the left side of the try line to record the Carabins’ first five of the afternoon. Leading 22-5 at the half, the Ravens would need to continue their strong defensive play to secure a perfect afternoon.
In the second, Montreal scored 10 minutes into the half before penalties caught up with Carleton. Gabriella Cote-Wawryszyn (Hamilton Township, Ont.) received her second yellow card of the afternoon and was show a red. Montreal showed renewed life of the red and changed the momentum of the afternoon. With Carleton on their heels, Anna Markov scored again for Montreal before Rosalie Gareau scored only the second successful conversion of the afternoon to cut the lead to five.
Needing to win by seven points to prevent Montreal from gaining a point the Ravens veterans took over. With less than eight minutes to play, Carleton repossessed the ball of the opening kick and drove the field quickly before Charlotte Ross was finally rewarded for her day of breakout runs. Breaking through a would-be tackler on the left flank, Ross was free in the try zone able to comfortably put Carleton back into a 10-point lead and prevent the Montreal bonus.
