Abby Roque Scores First Michigan Goal in PWHL History

Michigan native Abby Roque made PWHL history on Saturday, scoring the league's first-ever "Michigan" goal in a 5-2 loss to the Ottawa Charge. It was her 6th goal of the season, bringing her point total to 16 in 24 games.

Despite out shooting the Charge 23-14 going into the third period, the Sirens struggled to solve goalie Gwyneth Phillips and were trailing 3-1. Just two minutes into the final frame, however, Abby Roque decided to get a little creative and shoot the puck lacrosse-style instead...and it worked out.

Unfortunately, the Sirens weren't ultimately able to complete the comeback. Ottawa scored twice more in the third to extend their lead, and New York dropped a game as even the narrowest playoff hopes get dimmer and dimmer.

"It's cool, obviously," Roque said in post game media. "It would have been a little better if we would've made the comeback from there, but it's something that I jokingly say every day when I come to the rink. I'm like, Okay, Michigan today, and I don't actually mean it, but the opportunity presented itself, so I had to try."

Roque went onto explain that she felt more confident to attempt the move as Phillips catches right-handed. "Honestly, there was a lot around the net, and I just knew I had time behind the net to pick [the puck] up, so I thought I might as well."

Jamie Bourbonnais emphasized that Roque practices the move quite a bit. "She always does," Bourbonnais laughed.

"I do it in practice sometimes, to our goalies, and they don't love it," Roque admitted. "But it worked."

The Sirens' next game is Tuesday, March 25, also against Ottawa.