Your Northeastern Huskies hosted the University of Vermont Catamounts this afternoon for the back half of a pair at historic Matthews Arena. Last night the Huskies took care of business by a 3-1 score that saw the physicality ramp up throughout the contest. Playing in front of the Alumni got the squad firing on all cylinders, as they took care of business with an entire game effort walking with a 5-1 win.
With less than 2 minutes played in the first, Katy Knoll drew a penalty in the UVM end. The Premier Power Forward in Women’s Hockey Today is constantly making new friends, especially at the dot. Chloe Aurard got it going for the Huskies as she cashed in on the ensuing PP. Alina Mueller sent Aurard away through the neutral zone and down the LW with Knoll driving the net. Aurard let a wrister go from the LW dot that went far-post and in, and just like that the Huskies were off and running.
The Huskies appeared to double their score when Lily Shannon finished off a sweet feed from The Mayor of Kingston herself, Skylar Irving that beat Jessie McPherson on the glove side, but after a UVM coaches’ challenge, the play was ruled offsides. I’m going to make a plea to whomever decides these things, please show the replay on the tv feed and at the rink on the Jumbotron. Let the fans help the refs decide if it’s a good goal or not.
The review seemed to galvanize the Huskies as they found another gear after the no-goal call as they were absolutely flying. Every UVM puck was contested and there were no easy entries into the NU zone. Just past midway in the period, NU was back on the PP as Shannon got boarded behind the UVM net. The Huskies PP was clicking, working the wagon wheel with the high cycle in the UVM zone before Knoll walked down the RW to the dot and beat McPherson over the glove to make it a pair for the good guys. That score held until the horn for the first intermission.
The middle stanza was much more even as the Huskies were pinned in their own end for long stretches. I’d say most of that was due to the Huskies poor puck management vs. anything the Catamounts were doing, but that’s just splitting hairs. During a goalmouth scramble, UVM got on the board off a put away by Natalie Mlynkova over the sprawled out Gwyneth Phillips. If only the officiating crew from last night was working today’s game, that play would have been blown dead well before it got loose from Phillips. Can I digress for a moment here? Hand up, when I’m at the game I typically will sit behind the visitor’s net (since that’s where the action typically is) and because I’m usually trying to keep a 6-year old engaged while taking notes. Today however, I’m solo and sitting in the press box (not a big deal, #humblebrag) and from the center ice vantage point, I got to see a lot more of Phillips than I normally do. Let me just say, that with all her stats and well-deserved accolades, she might be a bit underrated. Out on top of her paint, square to the puck at all times and directing traffic; she’s like another coach or defenseman back there. Just a joy to watch her play.
Just past the midway point of the 2nd, Maureen Murphy got her cookie when she tucked one past McPherson. Mueller dug it out of the NU zone and with a nice give and go, sent Murphy away down the RW into the UVM zone. Murphy drove the net from the RW dot and with a quick forehand-backhand slid the puck 5-hole to give the Huskies back the 2 point lead. There were three defenders back on the play and they didn’t stand a chance. Keep the change is what Murphy (probably) told them after the goal.
The 2-goal lead held into the final frame until Knoll got her 2nd of the afternoon. After an iffy call on Taze Thompson (I mean if you drop your stick when someone gives you a dirty look it’s kind of tough to call it a slash in my opinion), NU killed of the UVM advantage and Knoll tucked in her own rebound on the net drive. Megan Carter sent Knoll down the RW and she let one go from almost the goal line that was rebounded right back to her. Without breaking stride she wrapped the cage and beat McPherson to the far side to tuck in her team leading 15th of the season.
Just when UVM thought they were ok to head to the buses, Mia Brown showed how you play to the final horn as she picked off a clearing attempt in the high slot and beat McPherson over the blocker at 19:59 of the 3rd. Good to see Brown rewarded for all her hardwork and unselfish play.
The Huskies are off until January, a good time to relax and let all the bumps and bruises heal.
Game Notes:
- Abbey Marohn is a beauty. Eating pucks all game she continues to be dialed in no matter the circumstance. Up by 3 goals with less than 2 minutes to play, she was down on one knee taking a puck to the body. A certified beautician.
- Megan Carter clearly getting ready for the Rivalry Series as she laid out a UVM player with a crisp open ice hit. That one would have made Scott Stevens proud.
- Nice work on buttering up the officials by Lily Shannon as she went out of her way to pick up a few pucks for Stripes today. Always good PR.
- Jules Constantinople was very vocal and directed the play from the back end all game. You can see her gain confidence with each game.
- Good counter by the NU defense as they worked the D to D passing to stifle the UVM fore-check. Coaching matters.
- Lily Yovetich called for one of the weakest penalties I’ve ever seen, How do you write it up on the scorer’s sheet for “being too strong on your stick”?
- Even though the goal got wiped off, it was good to see the line of Irving, Shannon and Peyton Anderson get rewarded. They were buzzing all game.
The Huskies are off until Sunday January 8th when they host BU at Matthews. Have a great holiday season and keep an eye out for a special interview podcast where I get to sit down with Associate Head Coach Nick Carpenito and sophomore forward Taze Thompson #HowlinHuskies
You can read more about Brownie in his bio down below of follow him on Twitter @Abrow28
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