QSSF Final: McGill conquers Carabins, capture 5th consecutive Quebec crown

MONTREAL - Ann-Sophie Bettez of Sept-Iles, Que., struck twice and Amy Soberano of Toronto netted the game-winner as top-ranked McGill blanked the Montreal Carabins 3-0 at CEPSUM arena on Friday to win the Quebec university women's hockey championship

It marked the fifth consecutive year that the Martlets had won the Ed Enos trophy as the QSSF title-holders.

Both Quebec finalists, however, will advance to the CIS championship tournament in Antigonish, N.S., March 11-14, thanks to McGill's gold medal at the Nationals last year, which produced an extra berth for the QSSF conference.

Soberano converted a pass from Lainie Smith at 5:03 of the opening period and that goal stood up until the final stanza, when Bettez broke the game open, connecting at 7:26 and 14:44.

Team captain Vanessa Davidson, the team's all-time leading point-getter, set up both goals by Bettez.

Despite the close score, McGill maintained a one-sided 38-21 territorial advantage in shots on net, including an 18-8 difference in the third period.

"It was a real good battle out there," said Amey Doyle, head coach of the Martlets. "The Carabins came hard and they had a number of chances but we have a team built on having a hard work ethic combined with character and it came through today."

MARTLET MURMURS: The Martlets improved to 33-6-0 overall, including a 30-0-0 record vs Canadian university opponents... Last year, McGill posted a school best 40-2-0 record, including 36-0-0 against CIS teams... The Carabins dressed a short bench, for unknown reasons, with four players fewer than normal. Notably absent was ex-McGill sniper Marie-Andree Leclerc-Auger, who was Montreal's second-leading scorer and had played in Game 1 of the series... Dressed but not in the starting lineup was ex-Martlet goaltender Catherine Herron, who saw action in 15 of 20 regular season contests and all playoff games to date,