Pascal shuts out Warriors as Gaels take playoff series opener 2-0

WATERLOO, Ont. - The No.8 Queen's Gaels were able to go into Waterloo and take a 2-0 victory in the opening game of their OUA playoff best-of-three series.

The Gaels will now look to close things out at home on Friday night in Kingston. Should the game need a third game, it will also be in Kingston on Saturday night.

The Gaels were able to control the pace of play early as they entered enemy territory against a Waterloo team that Queen's had not beaten all season.

Queen's took the first good chance on a partial break down the right-wing, but Waterloo goalie Stephanie Sluys was able to steer it aside. Queen's had the lone power play of the period but were still not able to beat Sluys firing eight shots in the period compared to just four from the Warriors.

In the second the Gaels were finally able to break through on the scoresheet. At the 2:18 mark of the second it was rookie Bridgid Goris (Thorndale, Ont.) who opened the scoring. Abby Lafreniere (Kirkland Lake, Ont.) and Robin Ketcheson (Toronto) picked up the assists on the Gaels opening goal.

With the early goal, the Gaels continued to put the pressure on Waterloo. Queen's finished the period with 16 shots in the frame. At the 18:19 mark one of the 16 found the back of the net. Emily Gervais (Kamloops, B.C.) picked up her first of the playoffs with the duo of Lafreniere and Ketcheson also assisting on the goal.

After 40 minutes Queen's controlled the game up 2-0. In the third period, the Warriors began to apply more pressure. Queen's netminder Stephanie Pascal (Sudbury, Ont.) was able to steer aside all 11 Warrior shots in the period, and Queen's skated away with the victory 2-0.

Pascal finished with 22 saves for the shutout victory.

Source: Queen's Gaels