Late Surge Dooms Torrent in Road Loss

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By Bo Crouch

The Seattle Torrent kept things tight early but couldn’t contain a late push from Montréal, falling 4–1 in a game that slipped away in the second half despite a brief third-period response.

Seattle leaned on structure in a scoreless opening frame, matching Montréal’s pace and limiting high-danger chances. Both teams traded possessions, but neither side could find the finishing touch as goaltenders controlled the tempo through 20 minutes.

The game opened up in the second period, where Montréal broke through at 4:17 on a finish by Catherine Dubois. The Victoire added to their lead with a shorthanded tally from Laura Stacey, turning a defensive sequence into a breakaway finish to make it 2–0. Seattle struggled to generate sustained offensive pressure, entering the third period in a two-goal deficit.

The Torrent responded early in the final frame, as Alex Carpenter cut into the lead at 7:56, finishing a play set up by Theresa Schafzahl to bring Seattle within one. The momentum, however, was short-lived.

Montréal answered quickly, restoring its cushion just over a minute later when Skylar Irving tipped in a shot to make it 3–1. From there, the Victoire locked down defensively and prevented Seattle from mounting another push.

Stacey added an empty-net goal in the final minute to seal the 4–1 result, capping a strong performance for Montréal and putting the game out of reach.

Seattle’s effort showed flashes of promise, particularly in the third period, but inconsistency in the middle frame proved costly. The Torrent will look to regroup as they continue their inaugural season, searching for more sustained offensive pressure and sharper execution in key moments.

Period-by-Period Recap

First Period:

A defensive, tightly contested opening 20 minutes saw both teams generate opportunities, but neither side could break through. Seattle held firm in its structure, and the game remained scoreless heading into the second.

Second Period:

Montréal seized control, opening the scoring at 4:17 before adding a shorthanded goal later in the frame to build a 2–0 lead. Seattle struggled to sustain offense and was held off the scoreboard.

Third Period:

The Torrent responded with a goal from Carpenter at 7:56 to cut the deficit to 2–1, but Montréal quickly answered to restore a two-goal advantage. An empty-net goal late sealed the 4–1 final.