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Gryphons force deciding game with 2-1 double overtime win over Gaels
Posted by: Shawn MacDonald (Sports Information Officer)

2/21/2014 10:36:00 PM
KINGSTON, Ont. (February 21, 2014) – The No. 8 Queen's Gaels lost in double overtime 2-1 to the No.3 Guelph Gryphons in game two of their best-of-three semifinal game at the Memorial Centre in Kingston on Friday.

The opening period saw the two teams pick up right where they left off Wednesday night in Guelph, deadlocked in a defensive battle.

The two goalies were the story of the opening period, the Gaels Mel Dodd-Moher (#35 Stittsville, Ont.) stopping all seven shots faced. Queen's had multiple powerplay opportunities including a full minute of five-on-three play. The Gaels could not take advantage however as Stephanie Nehring shut the door stopping all eight shots fired at her.

After the Gaels killed off two penalties in the second the scoreless game remained.

The third period saw the offensive action kick into gear and it was the Gaels scoring first. Alisha Sealey (#2 Elora, Ont.) fired a pass towards the front of the Gryphon goal that Shawna Griffin (#18 Redwood Meadows, Alta.) deflected past Nehring and into the net giving Queen's the 1-0 lead at 11:33.

In the dying minutes the Gryphons put on all the offensive pressure. With their goalie pulled Jessica Pinkerton got her first of the playoffs with only 36 seconds left shooting a loose puck in front past Dodd-Moher.

For the second straight game the teams headed to overtime. The ten minute opening overtime period ended with no goals and four Queen's shots to the Gryphons three. Dodd-Moher had 19 saves heading into the second overtime and Nehring 24.

Early in the double overtime a Griffin shot from the slot hit the cross-bar and layed in the crease momentarily before the whistle blew. After some confusion over whether the puck had actually gone in the refs called it no goal.(Photographer's note, see images 04964, 04965 & 04966 and see if you think this puck bounced off the crossbar and laid in the crease.) Then at 3:25 Christine Grant walked in over the blue line and fired a shot over the glove of Dodd-Moher to give the Gryphons the win.
(Photographer's second note, two days later we beat them 2-1 in regulationto win the series.)