Day two of the U Sports national championships ended with a massive upset and two close games requiring a shootout. The final four teams vying for a U Sports title are now fixed.
Both of the remaining U Sports quarterfinal games required a shootout, ultimately seeing the University of Montreal and University of New Brunswick earn the final two positions in the semis.
Montreal Stuns The University of British Columbia
It was a #1 seed versus #8 seed, but it was the underdog bottom seed in the tournament, the University of Montreal who came out victorious and will play for a medal at the U Sports National Championships. Montreal upset the top seed University of British Columbia Thunderbirds 4-3 in a shootout.
Montreal opened the scoring in the second period when Chloe Duchesneau struck shorthanded. Only 36 seconds later, Janelle Mentor doubled the Carabins lead.
Before the period was out, back-to-back Canada West Player of the Year Grace Elliott scored on the power play to get UBC back in the game.
In the third, it looked like the top seeds were turning it around as Canada West Defender of the Year Jaylyn Morris scored for the Thunderbirds, followed by the go-ahead goal for British Columbia, a fluke play by a Montreal defender into their own net that was credited to Karine Sandilands.
Juliette Rolland however, responded for Montreal who were outshot 34-22 in the game, with Maude Desroches stopping 31. Montreal managed to exit regulation tied 3-3. After a scoreless overtime frame, the teams went to a shootout where Audrey Anne-Veillette and Jade Picard tallied for the Carabins to list them to a 4-3 win ousting UBC and advancing to the semifinals.
New Brunswick Fights To Shootout Win
Katelyn Scott scores in the shootout - Photo @ Steve BrooksBoth goals during game action between the University of New Brunswick and the University of Ottawa came on Ottawa Gee Gees power plays.
The first was a power play marker from Ottawa's Alex Ferguson.
The second, also came in the opening frame as Lauren Carter tallied shorthanded for New Brunswick.
It was a goaltending duel from there on out with UNB's Cassie McCallum stopping 28 of 29 shots, and Ottawa's Clara Genier turning aside 43 of 44.
After overtime solved nothing, the teams went to the shootout where Payton Hargreaves and Katelyn Scott scored for the University of New Brunswick Reds to lift their team to a 2-1 win and a spot in the U Sports semifinals.
Guelph will now take on Concordia, while Montreal faces New Brunswick for a chance to play for a national title.
On the consolation side, Waterloo will play Manitoba followed by Ottawa taking no UBC.