OTTAWA (August 29, 2015) - The Gaels opened up their OUA regular season in Ottawa on Saturday afternoon taking on the defending OUA champion Gee-Gees. After giving up an early goal the Gaels responded with one of their own in the second half to draw with Ottawa 1-1.
 
GAME FLOW
The Gee-Gees entered the game with all the advantages, opening up the season at home, defending OUA champions and won all but one game last season. Ottawa pressured the Gaels early on in the opening minutes and were able to strike in minute 12. It was Julia Francki with her first of the season to put Ottawa ahead 1-0, beating Gaels starting goalkeeper Madison Tyrell (White Rock, B.C.). Tyrell held strong for Queen's the rest of the half stopping two shots while her counterpart Cynthia Leblanc stopped four for the Gee-Gees.

Early in the second the Gaels were able to find the equalizer. After a cross came through to the front of the net in the 50th minute from Brittany Almeida (Kingston, Ont.) it was Tara Bartram (Vancouver, B.C.) who got a piece of the ball and directed it past Leblanc for her first goal of the season. From there the two teams continued to pressure and look for the go ahead goal. The closest either side came was when the Gee-Gees wrang a shot off the post that stayed out. 

Tyrell finished with nine saves in the game for Queen's while Leblanc stopped 10 shots.

FINAL SAY?
"It was a good introductory game, a really tough physical battle against one of the best teams in the country. It was a good test early for our younger players, we started three first year players and they all played very well and dealt with the physical nature of the game well. I think we learned a lot about ourselves and what we need to do to be successful at this level." - Head Coach Dave McDowell.

BY THE NUMBERS
364 – Days since Ottawa did not win an OUA regular season game, they lost their 2014 opener against UOIT 3-2 then ran the table the rest of the season
3 – Consecutive years that Bartram has scored in the Gaels season opening game. She had one in 2013, two in 2014 and one today
10/27/2013 – The last time Queen's beat Ottawa. It was the OUA quarterfinal and the Gaels won 1-0 (3-2 PK) to knock-out the CIS No.1 team
2in2 – Ottawa looking to become the first team since Queen's to win back-to-back OUA titles. Gaels did it in '01 and '02
15 – Gaels veteran holdovers from last year's squad
 
UP NEXT
The Gaels continue their opening weekend road trip as they visit the Carleton Ravens tomorrow afternoon at 1pm in Ottawa. Queen's will take on Toronto in their home opener on September 5th at 1pm on Miklas McCarney Field.