(23Jan99)  Saturday afternoon at Matthews the Huskies of Northeastern mastered
the Maine Black Bears 6-1.  Maine, who is in their first season in the ECAC DI
league, came out strong and fast, but couldn't hold it.  The Huskies used some
crisp passing to cut up the Bears.
 
As the match began, both teams were moving.  It was fun watching two teams go
at it that hard and fast.  NU put on the pressure periodically, but Maine
countered with some good attempts of their own.  Northeastern's Jennie Setaro
(Jennifer Santerre, Lisa Giovanelli) opened the scoring when the puck came to
the point and the NU forwards set up a screen.  Setaro's bullet flew
crosscourt and went in high glove side.  Both teams continued to push it as
the first period wound down.
 
The second featured much slower hockey.  The Bears seemed to have shot their
wad.  The Huskies were looking poised and controlling the puck well.  Kathryn
Waldo (Brooke Whitney) made it 2-0 when she threaded home a shorthanded effort
for NU.  Maine was guilty of a defensive turnover.  Fresher Nicole Lewis
(Colleen Coen, Betsy Dyke) nailed her first goal of the contest when the Black
Bears were at sixes and sevens.  Lewis and Coen used each other well to create
the opening.  Maine hit back when the first-year line of Sarah Caza (Esther
Granville, Jennie Howell) executed an out of the corner play, at the end of
the period.  Caza slammed her try into the back of the net.
 
Despite being plagued by the poorest zebra pairing in the ECAC, with their
humorous calls, the teams continued a spirited game in the third.  Maine was
looking extremely fatigued.  Northeastern was working on the finer points of
their passing plays.  Hilary Witt (Waldo, Whitney) made it 4-1 NU when she hit
home the killer goal on a rebound.  The play was made by a magnificent setup
from Whitney.  Maine's goalie, Kathleen Hedges, made a wonderful stop on the
one timer by Waldo, but received no defensive support.  The result was Witt's
marker.  Right after the Black Bears changed netminders, the Huskies surged
forward with precision as Lewis (Santerre) finished the lovely play.  Lewis
(Coen, Jaime Totten) collected her hat trick and concluded the scoring when
she stuffed her chance after some refined puck movement.
 
L'Ours Noir looked remarkably good.  If they could have maintained the
excellent team speed they had in the first, they would have made this a
different contest.  Their mobility and passing were not where it needs to be,
but in general they play a tough brand of hockey and looked strong.  Maine's
best looking front line was the unit of Howell, Caza and Granville.  Clearly
once again, you're only as good as your first-years!  They moved the puck very
effectively.  Christina Hedges provided some much needed back-checking.  She
played a very smart game.  On the blue line, Kelly Nelson showed some strong
moves.  In goal, K Hedges, who transferred from Northeastern, had a steady
match.  She used her standup style well to hold her team in there.  It was odd
the way her defense would sporadically vaporize and leave her all alone
against the Huskies.  Overall, Maine looked good out of the box, and in a few
years looks to have the makings of a top team.
 
Northeastern pulled together one of their better passing days of the season.
Their composure let them move and grow in many directions.  The defensive
pairing of Totten and fresher Erica Archambeau was stellar.  Totten's power
from the blue line was wonderful.  Archambeau was able to pick the Black
Bear's pockets with her intelligent breakup plays.  Erine Metcalf was the
other defender who stood out with her ability to step up and fill the gaps.
That combined with her cannon shot from the point gave the visitors from Maine
grief.  Up front, the line of Santerre, Brooke White and Giovanelli played
better as a unit.  They're not on song, but there is improvement.  Witt
thundered though the Bear's zone and would freeze the defense.  The women of
the match were setup artists Whitney and Santerre.  It was impossible for me
to choose between them, as both laid on some lovely dishes.  At times it was
like they were having a contest among themselves to see which could set up her
linemates better.  Overall, the movement is looking better.
 
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 good shooting
 hungerf
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