(24Jan99)  On a rainy Sunday afternoon at Matthews Arena, the Northeastern
Huskies conquered the Black Bears of Maine 5-1.  Maine looked tired today and
mounted fewer serious attacks.  NU was pressing for much of the contest and
used their quick passing game to achieve the victory.
 
The match started with the Huskies surging forward and changing the point of
attack with relish.  That resulted in an early goal from fresher Nicole Lewis
(Erine Metcalf) when she tipped home a blast from the point by Metcalf.  Maine
was watching and not moving.  The Black Bears were often pinned down in their
own end.  Jennie Setaro (Hilary Witt) gave NU a 2-0 lead when her low point
shot through traffic found net.  Maine struck back during a spell of four on
four hockey, when Kira Misikowetz (Raffi Wolf) went end-to-end, beat a
Northeastern defender and shoved the puck home.  The Huskies came right back
during the four on four, when Metcalf (Lewis) walked in, hammered her initial
shot, picked up the rebound and waited, and flicked the puck into the back of
the net.
 
In the second period, NU continued to show patience and make the telling
passes.  Maine's team speed was not nearly what it had been on Saturday in the
first period, and while they came up with some nice plays, they didn't have
the wheels to execute them properly.  The Huntington Hounds went up 4-1 with a
power play goal from Witt (Kathryn Waldo, Setaro).  A point shot had been
defected off the near post, and Witt was waiting all alone at the far post
with the rebound, which she buried.  The Bears were boxing out better in
front, but the continuous NU pressure resulted in penalties.  Setaro
(Waldo) nailed her low drive from the point during another power play to
complete the scoring.
 
There was no scoring in the third.  It was a classic WCHA second nighter, with
both teams resorting to paybacks for the previous day.  There was some of that
feisty attitude throughout the contest, but the third featured some moments
neither side would be proud of.
 
The biggest thing holding back the bluish Black Bears is their one-dimensional
skating.  That lack of mobility hurts.  The team speed wasn't great today, but
Maine again came through with some interesting counterattacks.  The defenders
did a much better job of supporting their goaltender today.  First-year blue
liner Jessica Stachiw led the way with some good clearances.  While the
Huskies were relentless, the Maine marking look pretty good.  The line of
freshers Angela Hill and Andrea Keller and junior Alison Lorenz played very
well as a unit.  Hill sparked her linemates with some excellent speed.
Overall, the growing process continues for the Black Bears.
 
Northeastern had a nice attacking shape today.  They moved the puck around in
a way that kept the Maine defense guessing.  The line of Witt, first-year
Brooke Whitney, and Waldo had some marvelous moments of moving the puck.  The
touch passing they found was super.  Witt did some good back-checking and
finished her try clinically.  The line of Lisa Giovanelli, Jennifer Santerre
and fresher Brooke White were the most organized when they were penalty
killing.  Somehow being a player down brings them more together.  I thought
White used her speed well today as she back and fore-checked all over the ice.
She has some wonderful moves and dishes.  Perhaps if White held back a tad and
then exploded at that killer moment she would be scoring more.  Erika Silva
looked sharp and used her poke check skills to breakup several Maine passes.
Captain Jaime Totten was extremely strong at the back and from her blue line
position directed the attack forward.  The woman of the match was senior
Metcalf.  The big blue liner seems to be seeing more of the ice this season
and is sensibly waiting and then making the perfect play at both ends of the
ice.  Metcalf is looking grand.  Overall, the Huskies seem to have passed
their way into the final home ice playoff slot, for now.
 
 _____________
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 good shooting
 hungerf
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