parpho@rogers.com

10/21/2011 9:41:00 PM
KINGSTON, Ont. (October 21, 2011) - Morgan McHaffie of Guelph, Ont. continued her hot start to the season as her two goals and one assist led the No. 9 Queen's Gaels (3-1-0) to a 4-2 victory over the Western Mustangs (1-4-0) in the Gaels first game at the Kingston Memorial Centre since they claimed the 2010 OUA Championship on home ice.

The Gaels got off to a fast start as Katie Duncan of Kitchener, Ont. scored a goal for the Gaels at the 0:45 second mark of the first period. Morgan McHaffie was credited with her lone assist of the game on Duncan's goal.

The first period ended with a 1-0 Gaels lead, which held up until eight minutes into the second period after McHaffie picked the pocket of a Western defender in the corner on a strong forecheck, walked into the slot and tucked the puck underneath the top left corner of the goal to give the Gaels a 2-0 lead heading into the third.

Western made a game of it in the third with two early third period goals. Toronto's Casey Rosen beat the Gaels Karissa Savage of Calgary on a good point shot, before Madison Turk of Calgary scored the Mustangs' second goal of the game shortly after a faceoff in the Gaels zone. Both goals, which were 30 seconds apart, came on the power play.

The Gaels rebounded after a timeout with good tempo and pulled ahead midway through the third. Shawna Griffin of Redwood Meadows, Alta. scored the game winner just over ten minutes to play in the game. Kristin Smith of Toronto and Alana Smith of Aurora, Ont. were credited with the assists on the goal. Morgan McHaffie sealed the game on the power play by batting in a feed from Brittany McHaffie with five minutes to play.

Savage started the game for the Gaels and stopped 25 of 27 shots to earn the victory. She made several key saves with the game on the line including a spectacular toe save on the goal line after a nice cross-crease pass by Western to preserve a one goal Gaels lead in the second period.

The Mustangs used two goaltenders in the game as Olivia Ross of Huntsville, Ont. stopped 16 of 18 Gaels shots before being replaced by Kelly Campbell of St. Thomas, Ont. after Morgan's goal in the second period. Campbell stopped 12 of 14 shots in relief.

The Gaels were strong on special teams, killing seven of nine penalties while going one for four on the power play.

With the win the Gaels move to 3-1-0 on the season and look ahead to Saturday's tilt with the Windsor Lancers. Puck drop at the Memorial Centre is set for 7:30 pm.