WATERLOO, Ont. (February 19, 2015) - The No.6 Queen's women's hockey team fired 49 shots on net but could not find the scoresheet as they were defeated 1-0 in triple overtime against the Laurier Golden Hawks in the opening game of their best-of-three OUA quarter-final in Waterloo. 

The Gaels will look to bounce back in game two which takes place in Kingston Saturday night at 7:30pm at the Memorial Centre. For ticket information visit www.gogaelsgo.com/tickets

It was the Amanda Smith show early on in the opening frame as the Laurier netminder held her ground fending off the Gaels in close. Queen's had a great chance late in the period when Alisha Sealey (Elora, Ont.) fired a point shot through traffic but Smith held her ground.

Not to be outdone Gaels starting netminder Caitlyn Lahonen (Sharon, Ont.) held her ground as made a huge pad save off a streaking Golden Hawk to keep the game scoreless after 40 minutes.

Regulation finished scoreless as goaltenders Lahonen and Smith grabbed the spotlight, collecting 27 and 25 saves respectively through 60 minutes. The goalies continued their dominant play in overtime as neither side could find the back of the net through the initial 10 minute overtime and the first 20 minute overtime. 

The Golden Hawks ended the marathon at the 4:23 mark of the third overtime period as Tammy Freiburger collected the game-winning tally, banging home a rebound at the side of the Gaels net.

Final shots for the night totalled 49 to 40 in favour of Queen's. Lahonen was charged with the 39 save loss while Smith earned the impressive 49 save shutout victory. 

The game marks the longest for the Gaels since last season when they took Guelph to triple overtime and won 2-1 on a Shawna Griffin (Redwood Meadows, Alta.) goal at the 16:29 mark. Their longest overtime game came back on March 2, 2011 when Morgan McHaffie scored at 17:14 of the sixth overtime period to lead the Gaels to a 2–1 win over the host Guelph Gryphons in the first game of the best-of-three OUA women's hockey final. The game, which lasted 167 minutes and 14 seconds, including 107:14 of extra time, is the longest on record in CIS or NCAA hockey – women's or men's. Winning goaltender Mel Dodd-Moher made 66 saves, while Danielle Skoufranis made 44 saves in a losing cause. 

The Gaels will look to put the difficult loss behind them and even the series when they host Laurier Saturday night at the Memorial Centre. Puck drop is set for 7:30pm.