Comets crash

The Comets had to play away from home after a 1-1 tie with the same Lynx in the last game of the season, also played in Toronto. They dropped to 3rd place, a single point behind Toronto (23-22 margin), but enough to give the Lady Lynx home-field advantage in the semi-final.

The sudden-death playoff started well for Laval as Andréanne Gagné found the back of the Toronto net only four minutes after the opening whistle.

The goal, on a pass from Aimée Legault, stood up until early second half action, when Toronto scored twice in 12 minutes. Lexi Marten drew the Lynx even in the 47th minute, Claire Ramsdale put them ahead to stay in the 57th minute.

The Comets had a shot at drawing even soon after, but the inexperience of forward Mélissa Busque cost them a goal when she was called off-side. "It was the turning point," said a dejected Mohamed Hilen, Laval's head coach. "If Mélissa hadn't touched the ball, Aimée Legault would have scored the equalizer," the coach explained.

The Comets' fate was sealed in the 70th minute, Stefania Morra scoring the 3rd and final goal from which the Laval team never recovered.

"Let's be realistic. It takes depth to advance in the playoffs. We didn't have four of our best forwards in this game," coach Hilen added, noting the absence of Josée Bélanger, Sandra Couture, Mélissa Lesage and Carole Vaillancourt. "Toronto ramped up their play. Our young team lacked depth," he lamented, although insisting he was not giving up. "I'm confident about the future. We'll analyze the situation with Philippe Ciarlo (director-general). We need forwards with more snap and better finishing. It's the key to the problems," he concluded.

Photo:Andreanne Gagne

(Photo: Martin Alarie)