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[JEFF CHAN PHOTO]



WATERLOO, Ont. (March, 11, 2011) – Kelsey Thomson of Martintown, Ont., netted the shootout winner as the fourth seeded Queen's Gaels defeated the defending CIS champions Alberta Pandas 2-1 in their opening game of the CIS Women's Hockey Championship hosted by Wilfrid Laurier University.

Championship website (including live webcast): http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/wice

This was the Queen's sixth consecutive overtime victory in the 2010-11 playoffs – and first ever win at the CIS women's hockey championship.  It also pushes Queen's winning streak to 12 consecutive games.

“I'm so proud of them,” said Queen's head coach Matt Holmberg. “At the beginning of the game there was a bit of nervousness, Alberta is a great team, and we managed the weather the early storm.”

Queen's goalie Mel Dodd-Moher of Stittsville, Ont. stopped all three shooters in the shootout as well as 34 shots in the game.

The Gaels got off to a strong start on a 5-on-3 power play, scoring to attain their first lead of the post-season. Elizabeth Kench of Gananoque, Que., notched Queen's first goal at a CIS championship after beating a defender to get to the high slot.

At the end of the first period the Gaels had outshot the Pandas 10-8. Alberta dominated the play early, but the goal energized the Gaels who raised their level of play to keep pace with the Pandas.

The Pandas got on the board in the second period with a 5-on-3 power play of their own. Leah Copeland of Edmonton squeezed a shot through Dodd-Moher's pads from the side of the net. Shots in the second favoured Alberta 12-9 as they went 1-for-3 with the man-advantage.

With 1:56 left in the period Copeland took an elbowing penalty, but the Gaels couldn't capitalize sending the team to their sixth straight overtime in the post season.

Entering the game, Queen's had played 178:42 minutes in overtime this post season, including the longest game in collegiate history, prior to this game. Nothing was resolved in the ten minutes of overtime, so the match went to a shootout.

“We have the determination that we aren't going to lose,” said Dodd-Moher. “When we go into overtime, we aren't scared.”

Queen's was 1-for-3 in shootouts this season, while the Pandas were 1-for-2.

Thomson was the first shooter and beat Kanesa Schwetz of Waskatenau, Alta., That goal would stand up as the winner as Dodd-Moher shut the door on all three Panda shooters.

“I think we all feel we could have done a better job when the result isn't the result you want,” said Alberta head coach Howie Draper.

The Gaels will now take on the McGill Martlets on Saturday, March 12 at 4 p.m. with the winner playing in the gold medal match on Sunday evening. Alberta will finish last in Pool A and play in the fifth place game on Sunday, March 13th at 12 noon.

NOTES: The Gaels' playoff results so far are as follow: OUA quarter-final: v Queen's 2, Windsor 1 in 2OT (20:34 of OT); OUA semifinal Game 1: Queen's 2, Laurier 1 in 2OT (13:24 of OT); OUA semifinal Game 2: Queen's 2, Laurier 1in 2 OT (27:31 of OT); OUA final Game 1: Queen's 2, Guelph 1 in 6OT (107:14of OT); OUA final Game 2: Queen's 3, Guelph 2 in OT (9:59 of OT); CIS Championships (Game 2-Pool A): Queen's 2, Alberta 1 in SO; TOTAL: 188:42 of overtime since playoff started.

SCORING SUMMARY

Queen's 2, Alberta 1

FIRST PERIOD

SCORING
1. Que, Elizabeth Kench (1) (Becky Conroy, Kristin Smith), 5:10 (PP).

PENALTIES
Andrea Boras (Alb) tripping, 3:47;
Alana Cabana (Alb) cross checking, 4:32;
Elizabeth Kench (Que) slashing, 14:42;
Morgan McHaffie (Que) roughing, 20:00.

SECOND PERIOD

SCORING
2. Alb, Leah Copeland (2) (Alana Cabana, Andrea Weibe), 12:35 (PP);

PENALTIES
Becky Conroy (Que) hooking, 12:05;
Kelly Eustace (Que) roughing, 12:05;
Alana Cabana (Alb) holding the stick, 14:06;
Alex Cieslowski (Que) elbowing, 15:48;
Alana Cabana (Alb) roughing, 20:00.

THIRD PERIOD

SCORING
None.

PENALTIES
Leah Copeland (Alb) elbowing, 18:04.

OVERTIME

SCORING
None.

PENALTIES
None.

SHOOTOUT:
Que Kelsey Thomson - GOAL
Alb Katie Borbely - missed
Que Becky Conroy - missed
Alb Karla Bourke - missed
Que Elizabeth Kench - missed
Alb Leah Copeland - missed

GOALS (by period)
Que 1 0 0 0 1 - 2
Alb 0 1 0 0 0 - 1


SHOTS ON GOAL (by period)
Que 10-9-3-7-29
Alb 8-12-9-6-35

POWER PLAY
Que 1-5
Alb 1-5

GOALTENDERS
Que, Mel Dodd-Moher (W, 1-0, 35 shots, 34 saves, 70:00)
Alb, Kanese Shwetz (L, 0-2, 29 shots, 28 saves, 70:00)

HARROW PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Que: Mel Dodd-Moher
Alb: Nicole Pratt

REFEREE: Chris Pellerin

LINESMEN: Lysanne Patry, Kerri Rumble

ATTENDANCE: 311

SCHEDULE, RESULTS & POOL STANDINGS

NOTE 1: All games webcast live by SSN Canada on http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/wice
NOTE 2: All games at Waterloo Memorial Recreational Complex

POOL A GP W L GF GA PTS
1. McGill 1 1 0 4 2 2
2. Queen's 1 1 0 2 1 0
3. Alberta 2 0 2 3 6 0

POOL B GP W L GF GA PTS
1. StFX 1 1 0 4 3 2
2. Manitoba 0 0 0 0 0 0
3. Laurier 1 0 1 3 4 0

Thursday, March 10
16:00 Pool A #1: No. 6 Alberta (2) vs. No. 1 McGill (4)
19:30 Pool B #1: No. 5 Laurier vs. No. 2 StFX

Friday, March 11
16:00 Pool A #2: Alberta vs. No. 4 Queen*s
19:30 Pool B #2: Laurier vs. No. 3 Manitoba

Saturday, March 12
16:00 Pool A #3: McGill vs. No. 4 Queen*s
19:30 Pool B #3: StFX vs. No. 3 Manitoba

Sunday, March 13
12:00 5th Place - Alberta vs TBA
16:00 Bronze
19:30 Final