(06Feb99)  Very late Saturday afternoon, with snow flurries swirling around
Matthews, the Northeastern Huskies swept the White Mules of Colby 8-0.  Colby
came up with a determined effort, but were outgunned by NU.  The Huskies were
slackers.  It will be interesting to see if that kind of preparation will have
them ready for crunch time.
 
Colby arrived fashionably late for the match and so started the contest
shorthanded.  Immediately Northeastern scored when Betsy Dyke (Nicole Lewis,
Jessica Ferwerda) knocked one in on the power play.  Fresher Erica Archambeau
(Jaime Totten) made it 2-0 a short time later when her blast from the point
found the twine.  Lewis (Colleen Coen) put home a rebound after Coen had gone
on a solo rush.  The White Mules were being overrun.  NU was not executing as
a team, but individuals were able to move at will.  During a spell of 4 on 4
hockey, Kelly Martin (Beth Claggett) hit home a high rocket from the point.
Coen (Lewis) went on another individual run, that was not picked up by Colby
and made it 5-0.  Hilary Witt completed the first period scoring when her
singular foray found the back of the net.
 
In the second, play improved as both teams pulled together more team plays.
First-year Julianne Socha (Brooke White, Jennifer Santerre) scored the only
goal when she finished a nice three-way passing play.
 
In the final interval, neither side looked remarkable.  Witt (Socha, Erine
Metcalf) concluded the scoring with a power play goal.  It was easily the best
marker of the afternoon due to the wonderfully crisp misdirection pass from
Socha.
 
It has been a difficult year for Colby.  But they still play hard at a game
they obviously love.  For a variety of reasons, they do not have the talent
level many ECAC DI squads have.  The White Mules do well with what they have
and play a fine team game.  I was impressed with the steady defensive play of
fresher Kelley Jessopp.  She held her territory adeptly.  Blue liner Emiko
Domoto-Reilly went on a tear during a power play late in the game.  Sarah
Howard came up with a smart defensive forward game.  She sees situations and
reacts to them.  Howard also moves well.  The Colby woman of the match was
first-year Carrie Swiderski.  The diminutive forward has some fine shifts.
Swiderski plays with tons of energy and was all over the ice.  Overall, the
ECAC DIII league is fortunate to be getting the class act that Colby is.
 
Northeastern wasted this game.  It could have been an excellent opportunity to
practice things like movement off the puck, and creative passing plays that
develop killer goal scenarios - but nooooooooooo.  Instead we got solo larks
that aren't going to cut it during the upcoming schedule.  The middle period
saw some execution and better separation.  The defense was its usual
coordinated self.  We shall see if the rest and relaxation method has the
Huskies ready for crunch time, because - it's here!
 
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 good shooting
 hungerf
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