parpho@rogers.com
No. 7 Gaels advance to OUA Championship after 3-1 win over Guelph to sweep series
Posted by: Shawn MacDonald (Sports Information Officer)

2/22/2013 1:09:00 PM
KINGSTON, Ont. (February 22, 2013) - The No. 7 Queen's Gaels are headed back to the OUA Championship after defeating the No. 6 Guelph Gryphons 3-1 on Friday night in Kingston to sweep their best-of-three series.

Shawna Griffin (Calgary) and Morgan McHaffie (Guelph, Ont.) each had a goal and an assist while Mel Dodd-Moher (Stittsville, Ont.) was the star in net stopping 21 shots for the win.

The first half of the opening period was all Gryphons as Guelph challenged Gaels starting goaltender Dodd-Moher who was able to stop a partial break early on. The Gryphons continued the pressure keeping the puck in the Gaels end as the game reached the mid-way point of the period.

On a Guelph power play it was the Gaels' Griffin forcing a turnover in the Guelph end, she managed to chip the puck out front to Kristin Smith (Toronto) who was all alone in front but Gryphon netminder Stephanie Nehring (Oshawa, Ont.) was up to task making the save.

The Gaels went to work on their own power play as right off the face-off the puck went to the Gaels blueliner Alisha Sealey (Elora, Ont.) who fired a shot off the blocker of Nehring. Queen's forced the puck to the crease on two occasions afterwards but Nehring held strong and the game stayed scoreless.

Guelph found themselves in penalty trouble again and the Gaels went up on a five on three advantage. Sealey stepped in from the point on the half boards and made a slick pass through the blue ice to a wide open Chantal Morais (Guelph, Ont.) for an easy goal to put Queen's up 1-0.

Queen's outshot the Gryphons 20 to five in the first period, getting the puck through to the net on their power play chances.

Special teams continued to be the story of the game in the second period as the Gryphons went on the offensive with a power play early, Jessica Pinkerton (Oshawa, Ont.) fired a shot from the slot that deflected off the post and wide. After a face-off win in the Gaels zone, the puck made its way to Emily Corbett (Toronto) whose point shot was stopped by Dodd-Moher but Christine Grant (Mississauga, Ont.) put away the rebound to tie the game at 1-1.

Taryn Pilon (Peterborough, Ont.) had a few chances for Queen's but couldn't find the net and the teams stayed locked at 1-1 after 40 minutes. The second period saw the Gryphons out in front with 11 shots to the Gaels seven.

Morgan McHaffie broke the game open for Queen's early in the third as she made a deke through the legs of a Guelph defender then beat Nehring with a low wrist shot below the blocker. Brittany McHaffie added the assist for the Gaels.

Guelph started to apply pressure as the end of their season was staring them down. Gina Murray (Lucknow, Ont.) fired a shot through traffic from the half boards but it was handled easily by Dodd-Moher.

Nehring was doing her best to keep Guelph in the game making a miraculous save with just over five minutes remaining as the puck jumped over her shoulder and she was able to spin around and swipe the puck out of the air and into the corner.

Queen's defenders stepped up their game late as in the dying moments the blueliners were blocking shots. The offence responded and the Gaels stayed strong on their puck possession getting the play deep into the Gryphon zone.

With 28 seconds left Griffin sealed the win for Queen's with a power play goal, sending the Gaels to the OUA Championship.

Dodd-Moher made 21 saves for the win while Nehring stopped 37 in a losing effort.

The Gaels will now advance to the OUA Championship series next week. Queen's will play the winner of No. 4 Laurier and No. 10 Western. Currently the Mustangs hold a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three series.