Hats Off to Murph (again)

Your Northeastern Huskies took the ice tonight for the first of a pair against the University of Maine Black Bears at historic Matthews Arena. Both squads had matching records over their last 6GP coming in, but (as we’ve learned) numbers don’t tell the entire story. When it was all over the Huskies dismantled the Black Bears 8-1 and it wasn’t as close as the score indicates.

Maureen Murphy got her first on the day midway through the opening period when she converted a cross-crease Skylar Fontaine feed. Chloé Aurard corralled the puck in the RW corner and fed Fontaine who was dropping down the wing. Fontaine walked in from the RW dot and laid the puck over to Murphy for the knee drop one-timer from the left post. Murphy scores again and Fontaine with her first of 4 apples on the night. Ho-hum. Just another night at the rink, keep the change.

Originally tweeted by Northeastern Women’s Hockey (@GoNUwhockey) on February 11, 2022.

Just 34 seconds later Katie Cipra potted the eventual game winner when she finished off a Tessa Ward feed from the bottom of the LW circle. Ward drove the RW and found Cipra with a seam pass cross-ice. Cipra with the drag snap and she beat starting goalie Jorden Mattison over the shoulder far side. (Katie when you’re getting interviewed between periods don’t be so humble. Please say that you put the shot exactly where you were aiming). That shot was absolute filth and Mattison had no chance.

Originally tweeted by Northeastern Women’s Hockey (@GoNUwhockey) on February 11, 2022.

Ward was all over the ice tonight and set the tone early in the period with a heavy back check on her first shift of the game. With Maine looking to get something going with an odd-man rush, Ward came correct and broke up the play just inside her own blue line. She wasn’t just working hard on the defensive side of the puck, as she drew a late penalty with a strong drive down the wall into the Maine zone.

Murphy opened the scoring in the 2^nd period (stop me if you see a pattern here), this time burying an Aurard feed in close. Aurard was skating left to right behind the Maine net and fed a sweet backhand sauce to Murphy planted at the left post. Feed-shovel-score: Murphy went far side to make tonight her 10^th multi point game of the year.

Originally tweeted by Northeastern Women’s Hockey (@GoNUwhockey) on February 12, 2022.

Kennedy Little got Maine on the board later in the period when her seeing-eye clapper from the point found the back of Aerin Frankel’s net. The All-Galaxy NU goalie had a relatively easy time of it in the first period as the Huskies dominated zonetime and controlled the puck for long stretches. The 2^nd period was more of the same, but Frankel was dialed in. She was tracking the puck very well, out on top of her crease and sharp on her angles. This puck found home through a thicket of sticks and bodies and I don’t know if she saw it until it was on her. Today Frankel tied the Hockey East record for most career wins (70), is that good?

With less than 5 minutes to play in the period, Katy Knoll showed what going to the net will do for you. A loose puck in front of the Maine net bounced around on the blue paint until Knoll finally knocked it home. For you kids watching at home, going to the net pays dividends and it pleases The Hockey Gods. Why? Because the Hockey Gods love a greasy goal.

Originally tweeted by Northeastern Women’s Hockey (@GoNUwhockey) on February 12, 2022.

Just when you thought it was safe to look away, NU cashed in again. Aurard walked in from below GLE on the RW and with no defense present, Mattison threw a desperation poke check at the puck. The puck ramped up off the goalie’s paddle and tumbled over her shoulder into the back of the net. Aurard got the cookie and Mattison got the hook.

Originally tweeted by Northeastern Women’s Hockey (@GoNUwhockey) on February 12, 2022.

NU opened the 3^rd on the power play again thanks to a late call on Maine. Fontaine walked the blue line and let a wrister go from up high that Aurard redirected past Anna Larose who was in net in relief. The goal came 30 seconds into the PP on a clean sheet. Let me ask you, is there anything better than scoring on a PP when the other team gets chippy and starts (continues?) to run around? Power play, shorthanded… Aurard can do it all.

Originally tweeted by Northeastern Women’s Hockey (@GoNUwhockey) on February 12, 2022.

Murphy got the hatty (2^nd game in a row, 5^th of her career, nooooooot a big deal) when she finished a Maddie Mills cross-crease feed into a vacant net. It was a ridiculous feed from Mills, but I think she was going for the stick drag back between the legs? Don’t worry Millsie, it will be our secret. A couple of chapeaus made it to the ice and I wonder if Murphy gets to pick one for her collection?

Originally tweeted by Northeastern Women’s Hockey (@GoNUwhockey) on February 12, 2022.

The Huskies weren’t done either as Mills finally got her cookie too. Victoria Mariano let a clapper go from the blue line that Mia Brown redirected on net. The rebound popped right to Mills driving the net from the right circle and she put it past the sprawling Larose.

Originally tweeted by Northeastern Women’s Hockey (@GoNUwhockey) on February 12, 2022.

A couple of players to mention tonight that won’t show up on the score sheet. Brooke Hobson is a one-woman outlet machine. Calm and graceful with the puck she found the open skater all night and constantly makes subtle little moves that open up yards of ice for herself. Skylar Irving plays like her hair is on fire, and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible. She was hunting the puck all night and applied fore-check pressure that was too much for most of the Maine defensemen to handle. And last but certainly not least: goalie Alexa Matses who came in relief for Frankel with about 5 minutes left to play. Matses should make the ESPN highlight package for the sequence below. What a play! (and don’t think I missed your block down low Lauren MacInnis! I see you!)

The Huskies take on the Black Bears again tomorrow at 5pm. #HowlinHuskies