At Matthews, Sunday afternoon, the Northeastern Huskies were totally
outskated by the Friars of Providence College, nevertheless, NU eked out a
3-2 victory.  PC had some fabulous speed and at times dusted NU.  The
Huskies won because they made the most out of what fortune offered.

The contest featured the individuals of NU versus the team play style of
PC.  Providence's team speed was dazzling as the match began.  There were
spells when the Friars were dancing circles around Northeastern.  PC opened
the scoring when fantastic fresher Hilary Greaves (Ashley Payton) drilled
her chance on an end-to-end break.  Fellow first-year Payton and Greaves
worked a marvelous 1-2 at the near post that easily beat the sleepy Husky
defense.  Darlene Stephenson (Danielle Bourgette) made it 0-2 Providence
when she tipped a lovely dish from the point by fresher Bourgette.  PC was
ladling on the pressure.

Unfortunately, as the second unfolded, the Friars inept power play units
again and again tried to hand NU the momentum.  The awful PC passing was
adding up as massive internal frustration.  Northeastern repeatedly
resisted temptation, but in the final five minutes of the period, were
obliged to take over the game.  First Erica Archambeau (Brooke White)
cranked in a power play tally from the point, that found nothing but net.
Seconds later, first-year Lori DiGiacomo (Lindsay Ball) tied the scoreline
at 2 when she rammed home her try.  Providence was at sixes and sevens, and
looking like they had undone themselves, which indeed they had.

Caution was lurking everywhere in the final stanza.  The Friars were still
skating extremely well, but they seemed to be resigned to their failure to
score more goals.  PC's defense went to a one blanket policy in the third
whenever Northeastern had anything resembling pressure.  After some up and
down the ice action, Northeastern snatched the win when Brooke Whitney
(White) got the final touch.

So how fast are they?  Providence College is deliciously quick.  If their
puck movement were to take several quantum leaps forward and get in the
same neighborhood as the Friar skating, this team would be dynamite.  As it
is, the poor passing frustrates the attacking shape.  The other oddity is
that the defensive units are often out of sync with the attacking lines.  I
think the blue liners have a completely different script!  The most
impressive blue liner was Bourgette.  She makes the simple, heads-up plays
and moves the puck effectively.  Bourgette has nice hands - perhaps she
could give a clinic on the various forms of hard and touch passes for her
mates.  The other standout defender was fresher Mara Amrhein.  Her tough
solo marking was splendid.  First-year Rush Zimmerman was thrilling with
her acceleration bursts.  The line of Payton, Angela Hill and Greaves was a
treat.  Payton can really burn up the ice and Hill knows when to gun the
puck on net.  The woman of the match was Greaves.  This kid flies.  Today
she used her speed on back-checking assignments also.  Greaves warps
herself into great positions and always looks dangerous around the net.
Overall, this is a fast team, and if they ever develop their passing and
confidence, they would be wildfire.

The trivializing of sport with loud pop music at every stoppage of play was
unfortunately in fashion at Northeastern.




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    good shooting
    rhun
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Women's College Ice Hockey from rhun:  http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~cwinters

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