Several saves by goalkeeper Tricia Deguire in the shootout allowed the Montreal Force to take the honors of the very first game in its history, by the score of 5 to 4, against the Buffalo Beauts, Saturday night, at Northtown Center.
The Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) expansion team got off to a good start in North America’s only women’s professional league, but it took overtime to determine the winners.
In the third period, Sarah Lefort and Kim Deschênes hit the target twice in nine seconds to first tie the game and then make it 4-3. Claudia Kepler, however, brought everyone back to square one.
On penalties, Deguire yielded to the first player to come in front of her, before closing the door to the next seven. Samantha Isbell delivered Montreal by scoring in the eighth round.
Who better than the captain to get there with the first goal in Force history? Halfway through the first engagement, Ann-Sophie Bettez accepted Catherine Daoust’s return to the enclave to score this historic net.
“It’s our first game. We only had one preparatory meeting, so this is technically our second game. I am very proud of our team and what we have created offensively,” she mentioned on returning to the locker room during a short interview with PHF analysts.
Jade Downie-Landry completed the scoring in regular time for Montreal. Deguire, meanwhile, concluded with 30 parries.
“A great victory for our group, we improved as the game progressed. I really enjoyed the third period, we still have a lot of things to work on, but it’s good to get our first win on the road,” head coach Peter Smith said in a statement.
La Force and the Beauts will meet again on Sunday, again at the Northtown Center. The Quebec team will return home on November 26, at the Verdun Auditorium.