Photo by Marc Lafleur
OTTAWA – The puck dropped on the first frozen Bytown Battle of the 2021 season Sunday afternoon as the Carleton Ravens headed down Colonel By to tangle with the uOttawa Gee-Gees. The Ravens would strike first midway through the second period and that would be all they would need as they would go on to blank the Gee-Gees 3-0.
The Carleton Ravens would come out strong looking to maintain momentum after their opening night win against the Bishop’s Gaiters. As the two teams battled for possession Marie-Eve Cote (Quebec City, Que.) would stand tall in the Ravens goal with 12 saves through the first 20 minutes.
After a scoreless first period, the Ravens would strike quickly in the second as Annika Scurfield (Canmore, NFLD) would spring Jenna Morais (Burlington, Ont.) on a partial breakaway where should find space under the bar, notching her second of the season and giving the Ravens a 1-0 lead.
After falling behind the Gee-Gees would start to push back, challenging the Ravens and forcing them into difficult defensive situations while outshooting them 19-7 in the period. After creating havoc around the Ravens net the Gee-Gees would be awarded a penalty shot where Cote would again prove up to the task forcing Alyssa MacMillan to miss high over the bar.
Following the penalty shot the Gee-Gees pressure would increase forcing the Ravens to take a defensive zone penalty. The Ravens wouldn’t feel at all disadvantaged as they would strike again during the penalty kill when Justina Beard (Metcalfe, Ont.) would break down the wing burying her first of the season to double the lead.
Leading by two the Ravens would continue to get great goaltending from Marie-Eve Cote early in the third. As the period crossed the midway point Emily Smythe (Whitby, Ont.) would pounce on a Gee-Gees turnover and break in 2-on-1 burying a wrist shot short side under the bar.
The Ravens strong defensive play will seal the victory the rest of the way, as they would shutout the Gee-Gees 3-0.
Asked about his team’s victory, Coach Pierre Alain credited the whole team for their effort. “When you win 3-0 it’s a whole team effort, defensively we played well tonight, in all three zones we played well.”
Despite starting the season 2-0 for the first time since 2010-11 coach Alain and the team recognize there remains work to be done. Asked about their first two games, he was not shy to point out there remained work to be done. “There’s a lot of parts of our game that we have to be better, and that’s what we’re going to work on this week, but it’s a good start.”
The Ravens now return home next weekend for two important home games against the UdeM Carabins and McGill Martlets.
