2016 Esso Cup

EXPRESS ERASE TWO-GOAL DEFICIT TO BEAT GOLD WINGS

WENDY GRAVES

Weyburn, Sask. – The Express du Richelieu got goals from five different players to erase a two-goal deficit and beat the Weyburn Gold Wings.

Joannie Garand (Otterburn Park, Que.) led the way with a goal and two assists. Flavie Cadorette (St-Hilaire, Que.), Laurie Fontaine (Longueuil, Que.), Audrey Vigeant (St-Hyacinthe, Que.) and Éloïse Dubé (St-Hyacinthe, Que.) were the other goal-scorers.

For the second time in as many nights, the Gold Wings built a 2-0 lead, then let it slip away.

Shelby Kirkpatrick (Regina, Sask.) and Madison Solie (Sedley, Sask.) scored first period goals to give the team some much-needed momentum.

Weyburn came out with a strong sense of urgency, knowing a third loss this early in the week wouldn’t help its hunt for a playoff spot. Taking the first three penalties of the game delayed any momentum it hoped to build, but once the team settled into playing five-on-five, it found its rhythm.

At 15:04, Kirkpatrick hit twine from the high slot.

A mere 35 seconds later, with Cadorette sitting for tripping, Solie made it 2-0 with a low shot from the point.
Looking to change its luck, Richelieu switched goalies, pulling Marithé Lévesque (Baie-Comeau, Que.) for Carolanne Franc-Brown (McMasterville, Que.).

It worked.

Richelieu started its comeback only 2:25 into the second period. Émilie Lavoie (Beloeil, Que.) carried the puck up from her own end and around the Weyburn net then passed up along the boards to Cadorette, who skated into the centre of the ice and scored.

The Express drew even midway through the period; Fontaine beat Chantal Burke (Saskatoon, Sask.) clean with a wrist shot from the high slot.

The team took its first lead 4:19 later. From just above the goal line Garand sent a pass out front to Vigeant, who one-timed it from the low slot.

Dubé opted to keep the puck on a two-on-one early in the third to give the Express a two-goal lead.

Weyburn pulled to within one midway through the period. Maeve McGauley (Wilcox, Sask.) took an outlet pass off the boards, and after her initial shot was blocked followed through on the rebound.

Garand silenced the comeback attempt – and the home crowd – with less than five minutes to play, when she came in from the boards to go top shelf far side from the bottom of the face-off circle.