Your Northeastern Huskies took their winning ways on the road, as they headed up to Merrimack College for the 2nd half of their home and home series versus the Warriors. Different sheet, same result as the Huskies won their 3rd straight (in 3 different venues) dusting Merrimack 4-1 at Lawler Rink in Andover.
It was the same lineup for the Huskies from top to bottom with Lisa Jönsson in net opposite Calli Hogarth manning the pipes for the Warriors. Just like last night, Merrimack opened the game with pace and some looks around the NU net. But, just like last night, it was the Huskies on the board first. Kristina Allard dropped down the RW and fed Skylar Irving at the top of the RW circle and The Mayor of Kingston didn’t miss. Her one-timer went far side over the blocker and then Skirvs broke out the dab celly.
The 208 Line got the Huskies on the board (you’ll have to listen to Coach Carp’s interview to get that reference), but it was the Munchkin Line that changed the tenor of the contest. The opening 5mins saw MC dominate zone time and had some good looks; but Ellie Mabardy, Holly Abela and Katie Davis got the ice tilted back the other way with a strong forecheck and puck possession shift. Then it’s Lily Shannon, Jaden Bogden and Irving and the MC defenders were back on their heels. Great complementary play by the NU forward lines.
Late in the period Mabardy on the backcheck got in the way of Tuva Kandell trying to outlet and while figuring out who’s chocolate got in who’s peanut butter, the Warriors capitalized. Alex Ferguson’s bid from in close was turned aside by Jönsson but Emma Pfeffer didn’t miss walking down the slot and scored from 3ft out. The teams took the 1 goal tie into the first intermission.
In the middle frame the zone time evened out, but NU was starting to impose their will as MC had a tough time penetrating. The Warriors got some shots on net, but from the perimeter and Jönsson ate those up without issue. Just past midway of the 2nd, Jules Constantinople was taken down in the corner to Jönsson’s right and NU got to roll out their power play. Dangerous penalty and glad Jules was ok, Merrimack’s gonna Merrimack I guess.
On the ensuing power play, Tory Mariano kept up her torrid pace as she beat Hogarth over the blocker. Bogden carried the puck into the LW corner and found Mariano fresh off the bench. Bogs laid it perfectly cross the zone and Mariano sniped with a heavy wrister. Good to see Mariano get a cookie to go with all her apples as of late. You have to have a balanced diet.
The Huskies should have come out to “Sweet Georgia Brown” to start the 3rd as they impersonated the Globetrotters while dummying Merrimack. Long setups in the MC zone, retaining possession while changing out players: it looked like an extended power play drill.
With the way they’ve been playing, you knew the Munchkin Line would get on the sheet tonight. Mabardy created a turnover at center ice where she broke up 2 MC players and fed Davis heading into the MC zone. Abela was on her horse on the right side and they broke in 3:1 on the hapless MC defender. Davis to Abela at the RW circle and her snapdrag beat Hogarth over the glove. 3-1 and let’s run the clock!
And just when you thought it was safe to be a Merrimack goalie… Éloïse Caron entered the chat. Allie Lalonde came off the RW half-wall and found Caron laterally in the slot. Elo showed backhand before beating Hogarth 5-hole and that was it for the MC goalie. Sophia Hausberger came in for relief of Hogarth after the Caron goal. Great vision by Lalonde to find Caron in front.
That score held for the final as the Huskies head home to get ready for next weekend when they host Vermont at Matthews before heading down to CT for a matchup with the other huskies.
Some observations from around the rink:
- Congrats to Holly Abela on her 100th game – of course she scored, she also had a monster PK shift where she went 1:4 in the MC zone and froze the puck on the wall for a good 15-20 seconds
- Can we talk about the tape job on Skylar Irving’s stick? Look at her goal video above, I’m not going to second guess the results, but it looks like she taped that twig blindfolded.
- Lisa Jönsson made a number of 10 bell saves tonight and kept the Huskies in this one early
- Jules Constantinople laid out late in the 2nd to eat a MC shot from the point. She took that one to the body and got up and skated it out.
- And lastly, I’d like to address the Merrimack program at large. There’s a saying: dress for the job you want, not the one you have. I’m sure no one involved in the Merrimack program is pleased with where they currently are in the standings, but at least make the effort.
- There is a pronunciation key on every roster sheet in Hockey East. The PA person should at least give it a glance. They butchered Carpenito (understandable) but to call Mabardy “May-ber-dee” and Caron “Karen”? C’mon.
- And the biggest insult to these athletes (at least in my opinion), does the school thinks so little of the women’s hockey team that they don’t have concessions open? I asked one of the students working the game why it was closed and her reply was “they never open concessions for women’s hockey”! C’mon, did you just see the crowd at TD Garden? Have you not seen the uptick of fan interest in women’s hockey (and all women’s sports)? You had over 300 people there tonight, I assume some concession money goes to the team right? That was bush league. Figure it out.
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