(16Jan99)  Early Saturday evening at Johnson Rink, the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology Beavers came from behind to defeat the St Catherine Wildcats 4-
2.  St Kate's, on an eastern road trip, stormed out to an early lead but
couldn't hold it.  MIT revived and hit back to claim victory.
 
As the match began, the WildKate's pressed forward with some nice rushes.  MIT
was experiencing confusion on their transition plays.  Both teams were guilty
of drifting too much and not moving their feet.  However, CSC's Melissa
Zachman was able to pick up a defensive error, cruise in on the Beaver
netminder and tuck her try into the back of the net.  First-year Zachman (Mary
Wallraff, Nikki Norwich) made it 0-2 St Kate's when Wallraff put the puck on
the tape from behind the net.  Zachman buried her chance.
 
In the second, MIT turned it on.  Jen Blundo essentially put on a clinic on
how to fore-check, back-check and hit the jets.  Fresher Blundo (Christina
Gehrke) started by going on a fore-checking tear, and after getting the puck,
deked the CSC goalie and drilled it home.  A few moments later, Blundo
(Gehrke) tied the match at two.  She was on a back-checking spree and produced
a turnover.  Blundo then made the nice transition pass to Gehrke who waited
for Blundo to get in position.  Gehrke released the soft pass to the streaking
Blundo who knocked the puck in at the far post.  Lovely goal.  Minutes later
MIT pulled in front 3-2 when Kalpana Mani (Blundo, Gehrke) banged in a
rebound.  The play was made by Blundo, and the floodgates were open.  Gehrke
(Mani) closed out the scoring when the Beavers fore-checking created another
opportunity.  Mani made the nice cross-ice pass and Gehrke deked the Wildcat
goalie before throwing her backhand into the roof of the net.
 
As the third period began I was wondering if CSC could roar back, or if MIT
would continue the crunching.  As it turned out, there was no scoring.  Both
sides were looking fatigued and play turned decidedly defensive.
 
St Catherine is a DIII varsity in the MIAC league.  In general they reach for
the puck too much, instead of skating.  The number one issue for the
WildKate's is mobility.  They have some good ideas of what to do with the
puck, but their movement is holding them back.  Vanessa Lawrow stood her
ground well in goal in the opening two periods.  Fresher blue liner Beth Janni
played a very good heads-up style.  She made several intelligent breakup
plays.  First-year Carrie McKinney used some spirited rushes from the back to
help her team forward.  Up front, Anne Paape buzzed all over the ice with her
rapid action mode.  The Wildcat woman of the match was the combo of Zachman
and Norwich.  They moved very well together and at times used each other
cleverly.  Overall CSC looks to be making a good start.
 
MIT just became a varsity this season and will be in the ECAC D3 league next
fall.  Like their Minnesota foes, skating is their prime concern.  Some
individuals looked pretty good, but the team movement isn't there.  That can
result in things like following the puck too much and not creating any kind of
separation.  Senior Bree Huning hung tough in goal and was able to stuff CSC
after allowing the early scores.  The defensive pairing of Anne Mitzel and
Carolyn Phillips provided some strong coverage.  They played well as a unit.
Katherine Oates and Mani kept the forward lines moving with some good fore-
checking.  Senior Gehrke displayed hustle and used her playmaking skills to
help turn the contest around.  She can lay on a sweet pass.  The woman of the
match was Blundo.  She was burning up the ice in the second.  Very much the
team player, Blundo let it rip and took her goals with a flourish.  Overall
MIT pulled out a fine victory.
 
 _____________
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 good shooting
 hungerf
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