Smith shines as McGill licks Laval women in rain-soaked affair
MONTREAL -- Anna Smith, a junior midfielder from Boston, tallied twice as fifth-ranked McGill doubled No.9-Laval 4-2 in women's university soccer on a rain-soaked turf at Molson Stadium, Thursday.
In a battle of the undefeated titans, McGill kept their perfect record intact, improving to 3-0 atop the QUSL standings, while the Rouge et Or fell for the first time and dropped to 2-1.
Laval had a territorial edge and jumped into an early lead when Melissande Guy of Quebec City scored just three minutes into the contest. But McGill rallied on markers from Alexandra Morin-Boucher of Montreal and Smith in the 30th and 37th minutes, respectively.
"We were fortunate to come out with a lead after halftime." said Marc Mounicot, head coach of the Martlets. "We had a slow start and gave up a bad goal on set play in a situation where the entire team was caught sleeping. It is a game that I want to forget and put behind us. I will just remember the three points in the standings."
Smith's second marker, in the 61st minute, proved to be the game-winner. Laval rallied three minutes later, however, when Marwa Chebbi, a rookie from Tunisia, beat McGill freshman 'keeper Valerie Labbe.
The Martlets put the game out of reach some 20 minutes later when forward Selena Colarossi of Burlington, Ont., beat Laval 'keeper Gabrielle Verret.
Labbe ended up making six saves, improving her record to 2-0 in league play, while Verret registered three saves and was saddled with the loss.
The Martlets will put their three-game win streak on the line at Concordia (0-1-1) on Sept. 19.
SCORING SUMMARY
McGill 4, Laval 2
(at Molson Stadium)
FIRST HALF:
1.Laval: Melissande Guy (unassisted), 3:00
2.McGill: Alexandra Morin-Boucher (Hannah Rivkin), 30:00
3.McGill: Anna Smith (Meghan Bourque), 38:00
SECOND HALF:
4.McGill: Anna Smith (Christina Burrows), 60:00
5.Laval: Marwa Chebbi (unassisted), 64:00
6.McGill: Selena Colarrossi (unassisted), 83:00
GOALKEEPERS:
Laval: Gabrielle Veret (L, 4GA, 3 SVS, 90:00)
McGill: Valerie Labbe (W, 2GA, 6 SVS, 90:00)
SHOTS TOWARD NET:
Laval (8 on net, 3 off net)
McGill (7 on net, 1 off net)
CARDS BY:
Laval 1 yellow (Caroline Collin)
McGill 3 yellows (C. Burrows, M. Bourque, H. Rivkin)
CORNERS BY:
Laval 2
McGill 4
CROSSES BY:
Laval 3
McGill 8
FOULS BY:
Laval 8
McGill 9
OFFSIDES BY:
Laval 1
McGill 7
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Laval Melissande Guy
McGill Hannah Rivkin
McGILL'S STARTING LINEUP:
GK: Valerie Labbe
DEF: Katherine Green
DEF: Christina Burrows
DEF: Jenna Holdham
DEF: Kendra Bui
MID: Julia Bahen
MID: Maggie Keating
MID: Meghan Bourque
MID: Anna Smith
MID: Hannah Rivkin
FOR: Alexandra Morin-Boucher
McGILL'S SUBSTITUTIONS:
DEF: Alexandra Bland-Lasso for Green 43:00
FOR: Stephanie Avery for Morin-Boucher 46:00
MID: Selena Colarrossi for Bourque 65:00
MID: Claire Hooper for Keating 65:00
MID: Kathleen Wakeling for Smith 75:00
FOR: Alexandra Armstrong for Avery 80:00
DID NOT PLAY
GK: Victoria Muccilli (dressed but DNP)
MID: Hannah Kirby
MID: Ginger Jefferies
FOR: Bianca Cordileone
MID: Hannah Simmons (injured)
DEF: Kelsey Wilson (injured)
DEF: Melanie Desaulniers-Rioux (injured)
DEF: Carolyn Bell (injured)
Attendance 100