Ottawa's Very Own Rebecca Leslie Propels Charge To Game 3 Victory
The Walter Cup travelled to the Canadian Tire Centre for the first time in this year's Finals as the series between the Montreal Victoire and Ottawa Charge shifted to the nation's capital. With everything on the line, Rebecca Leslie scored in the dying seconds to send the series to Game 4.
Sometimes in sports, a team proves to be more than the stats would suggest on a stat sheet, and that's what 16,894 fans witnessed in Game 3 of the Walter Cup Finals at the Canadian Tire Centre between the Montreal Victoire and Ottawa Charge. That record-setting crowd saw firsthand that a team's belief in itself, no matter the outside noise, can carry it to wins in the most unexpected situations. "I think this has been our M.
O all year," said head coach Carla MacLeod. "We just don't stop. We never have and we never will.
It's not who we are. " And that mentality was evident all game long. Credit: Ellen Bond Down 2-0 in its series against Montreal, Ottawa had to win this game to keep its Walter Cup dreams alive, and saved its best performance for when everything was on the line.
The Charge led in shots on goal through the first two periods, minimized infractions, continued to hold Montreal's power play at bay, and saw many of its best players step up when it mattered the most: Gwyneth Philips made 27 saves, and the top two lines factored into both goals. Ottawa, and its full team commitment to be relentless on every shift, controlled the pace of play for stretches throughout the game and, when mistakes were made in the offensive zone, was able to back-check to regain position and control of the puck. "I think it's just the group of people in our locker room," said Rebecca Leslie, who scored the game-winning goal with less than a minute in the third period.