MONTREAL - Jackie Tessier and Alexis McKinty scored Thursday as the Queen's Gaels opened their title defence with a 2-1 quarter-final victory over the Alberta Pandas at the Canadian university women's soccer championship.

The victory advanced Queen's to a semifinal match Saturday against Ottawa, which earlier advanced with a 3-2 win over Dalhousie.

Tessier opened the scoring in the 17th minute of play. The all-Canadian forward converted a cross from McKinty and fired an acrobatic bicycle kick past Pandas goalkeeper Kelti Biggs.

"I was ahead of the play and sensed that the crossing pass was going behind me," said Tessier.

"I turned back and thought 'Why not try a bicycle kick?' I've never done that it in a game before but I made some good contact, turned around and saw that it went in off the far post."

Kayla Michaels scored the equalizer in the 66th minute, but three minutes later, Tessier fired a cross to set up the game-winner by McKinty.

"I'm satisfied with the result but think that this was one of our poorer performances of the year. But you have to give some credit to Alberta, who was very good today," said Gaels head coach Dave McDowell.

"We have found a way this year. We haven't been down in many games but we always seem to respond immediately when our opponents score."

The loss meant Alberta will settle for a consolation game Friday against Dalhousie.

Later Thursday, the Montreal Carabins advanced with a 2-1 win over the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, while the McGill Martlets beat the Trinity Western Spartans 1-0.

The Gee-Gees moved into the semis after exploding for three goals in a five-minute span against Dalhousie.

After Doriana Homerski gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the first half, Pilar Khoury scored in the 48th minute for Ottawa, Krista Draycott added another only a minute later and Corina Jarrette scored in the 53rd minute to make the score 3-1.

Homerski scored her second of the game in the 64th minute to cap the scoring.

Meanwhile, Chloe Bouclin-Sabourin scored the deciding goal for the Carabins in the shootout after Eva Thouvenot-Hebert sent the game to extra time with a goal in the 87th minute.

Heather Malizia had the lone goal for the Golden Hawks in the 59th minute.

Montreal will play McGill in the other semifinal after Selena Colarossi scored the decisive goal in the penalty shootout.