Late goal wins bronze for Gaels

The Golden Hawks dominated their regular season match-ups with the Gaels including a particularly painful 8-1 loss in January. But this year’s Queen’s Gaels don’t roll over; a big factor in their competing in the CIS Championship. The Gaels battled hard in the bronze medal game coming out on top with a late goal by defender Kerstin van Bolderen.

Laurier pressured early in the first but with a flurry of penalties called, both teams were left to fend off man advantages. The Golden Hawks had a huge advantage with a five-on-three after interference penalties were called first on forward Brittany McHaffie and then defence Kerstin van Bolderen. Gaels held off the Laurier power play amounting to a momentum swing for Queen’s. A quick opportunity by Kench and a Thomson shot that went off the post were two of the Gaels’ better chances in the period. The Gaels ended the period with 12 shots on net to Laurier’s nine.

Penalties took over the second period with the Gaels and Golden Hawks taking four each. In one of the more intense moments of the period, Laurier was rewarded a penalty shot; their second in the playoffs against the Gaels, dating back to their OUA semifinals. Dodd-Moher, who has been one of the Gaels’ strongest players all tournament, shut down the Laurier player. The Gaels’ play during their second period did not create as many opportunities with only four shots on net.

With no score going into the third, both teams had an air of desperation in their play knowing that whoever scores first could have the winning goal. With penalties less of an issue in the third, the Gaels and Golden Hawks had a fierce battle exchanging opportunities throughout the 20 minutes.

van Bolderen converted a pass by Kench with less than two minutes to play in the game. The lone goal of the game would stand and Queen’s would go home with the bronze medal in their first CIS finals tournament in Queen’s history.

For full coverage, pick up an issue of the Journal on Friday.

All final editorial decisions are made by the Editor(s)-in-Chief and/or the Managing Editor. Authors should not be contacted, targeted, or harassed under any circumstances. If you have any grievances with this article, please direct your comments to journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca.

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