FORTINO’S TWO POINTS LEAD YELLOW TO FIRST WIN

TORONTO, Ont. – The power play was the difference for Yellow on Monday night as it collected both of its goals on the man advantage to score a 2-1 victory over Red on Monday night at the National Women’s Program selection camps at MasterCard Centre.

The game was the first of two that Yellow – an under-22 team – will play against under-18 competition. It opened with a 4-2 loss to Blue, its U22 rivals, on Sunday, and will take on White, the other U18 entry, on Tuesday. Blue and Yellow will meet again in an all-U22 game to close the camp on Saturday.

Yellow got on the board early by taking advantage of its first power play opportunity, with Courtney Birchard (Mississauga, Ont.) rifling a point shot past Red netminder Ann-Renée Desbiens (La Malbaie, Que./Qc) with help from blue line partner Laura Fortino (Hamilton, Ont.).

Another Yellow power play late in the opening period meant a 2-0 lead as Fortino snapped a shot past Desbiens from the slot, with helpers going to Jocelyn LeBlanc (Moncton, N.B.) and Jessica Wong (Baddeck, N.S.).

After a scoreless second period, Erika Sowchuk (Vauxhaull, Alta.) finally beat Geneviève Lacasse (Scarborough, Ont.), roofing a backhand past the Yellow goaltender midway through the final 20 minutes.

A late penalty shot gave Red its best chance to tie the game, but Lacasse shut the door to preserve the win for Yellow.

Goals/Buts : 
04:05 YEL Courtney Birchard (Laura Fortino) PP/AN
13:58 YEL Laura Fortino (Jocelyn LeBlanc, Jessica Wong) PP/AN

Penalties/Pénalités : 
02:06 RED Erin Ambrose(Boarding/Donner de la bande)
08:02 RED Jennifer Shields (Hooking/Accrocher)
11:45 RED Emily Fulton (Roughing/Rudesse)

Goals/Buts : 
None/Aucun

Penalties/Pénalités : 
14:13 YEL Courtney Birchard (Interference/Obstruction)
16:14 RED Shelby Bram (Tripping/Faire trébucher)
17:09 YEL Cassandra Poudrier (Boarding/Donner de la bande)

Goals/Buts : 
10:33 RED Erika Sowchuk

Penalties/Pénalités : 
03:21 RED Gina Repaci (Hooking/Accrocher)