Your Northeastern Huskies hosted the Holy Cross Crusaders for the back half of their home and home series earlier this evening at Historic Matthews Arena. Compared to last night’s tilt, this was a relatively calm and orderly affair with the Huskies coming out on top, winning 4-2 in regulation.
In net for the Huskies was Lisa Jönsson, making her 2nd NCAA start and notching her first dub as a Husky. It was a much better start for the Hometown Heroes as they matched the pace and energy that Holy Cross brought to open last night’s game. In their defensive zone, NU kept HC on the perimeter and the Huskies had long stretches of sustained attack in the Crusaders end.
The teams ended the first knotted at gooses and statistically the Huskies had the edge with SOG and were dominant at the dot with a 68.4% win rate. The second saw the play even out more as each team had their chances but Jönsson and HC netminder Brooke Loranger were up to the task and shutting down all scoring attempts.
A late push by Holy Cross put the Crusaders on the board first as Lulu Rourke cashed in on a loose puck in the high slot. HC attacked the NU zone and the rebound popped to Rourke trailing the play and she beat the sprawled out Jönsson for the early lead.
That score held into the final frame before Lily Shannon evened things up. Taze Thompson carried the puck down the LW and dogwalked a Crusader defender before finding Shannon in the slot. Shannon had a perfect re-direct from one knee: over the glove high cheese and we had a tie game.
The Huskies put the lines in a blender for the 3rd period and it paid off on the Shannon goal and it paid off a few minutes later on Ella Blackmore’s goal. It was all Huskies after they tied it up and with a tired HC defense on the ice, the Honey Badger made them pay. Blackmore walked in from the LW wall and went far side past the glove to put the Huskies ahead.
With just over 7 minutes to go in this one, The OG, the Nailgun herself and the Pride of Hockey Town cashed in for her first career goal as a Husky. After winning a face-off in the HC zone on the RW, Lily Brazis drifted towards the slot as Holly Abela worked the puck to her from the end wall. With ice in her veins, Brazis deposited the puck over the blocker.
Keep the change, it’s a good goal.
And, since I’m a man of my word Brazis, here’s your picture:
Holy Cross got one back with 3:50 left to play after a goalie change, when Charlotte Sonntag followed her shot and stuffed home her own rebound to pull the Crusaders within a goal.
Holy Cross pulled the goalie (hoping for some Husky magic from last night I’d assume), but The Hockey Gods reward hard work and Jaden Bogden potted the ENG to salt this one away. Bogden was all over the ice tonight and got her just reward with the put away.
Some thoughts from around the rink:
- Tuva Kandell made some great plays tonight and had a huge eat late in the game to keep the Crusaders off the board.
- Outside of the ENG, the top line didn’t show up on the scoresheet. If this was the type of play NU can get WITHOUT the big dogs?
- The entire D corp was wheeling tonight. Lily Yovetich, Tory Mariano, Kristina Allard, Jules Constantinople, Rylie Jones, Tristan Thompson and Kandell all had their legs going with their heads up the whole night.
- Mia Langlois had her best period of the season in the opening frame. With Brazis cashing in late, and Molly Griffin hunting the puck all over, the goals will start coming in bunches for this line.
- Stick taps for Alexia Moreau as she had to be helped off the ice in this one. Hope she’s okay.
The Huskies get back at it next on Friday night at Providence.
A little extra love to Brazis cause she’s def earned it.
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