Ann-Sophie Bettez had a great game for the Montreal Force, scoring a hat trick as her team beat the Connecticut Whale 5-4 on Saturday afternoon at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.
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The representatives of La Belle Province held the lead in this meeting only 19 seconds from the end. Brooke Stacey, on a redirected shot from Brigitte Laganière, scored to prevent the two teams from going into overtime.
If Stacey gave the final warning shot, it was Bettez who kept the Force in the game. The captain hit the target in each engagement, creating a tie at 4-4 early in the third period, among other things, on a two-on-one run with Jade Downie-Landry.
The native of Sept-Îles also completed some good plays, like on her net in the first period. Starting from his own blue line, Bettez entered with speed into enemy territory. After getting rid of a Whale player with a fake, she beat goalkeeper Meeri Raisanen between the pads to make it 1-1.
Montreal has always responded to Connecticut’s attacks, which have taken the lead four times. Kennedy Marchment notably scored a double at the expense of Marie-Soleil Deschênes, author of 28 saves.
Samantha Isbell was the other scorer for the visitors.
La Force will return to Quebec next Saturday and Sunday by hosting the Boston Pride for a pair of games at the Premier Tech Center in Rivière-du-Loup.