Sunday morning, back at Matthews for game five of the Husky Invitational
which found the Concordia University Stingers winning the tournament by
beating host Northeastern 1-4.  Concordia gradually built up the pressure
and came through with a strong win.  In some ways the score flatters the
Stingers, as the Huskies had their best skating game of the weekend.
 
The first period featured CU power, but interrupted enough by
Northeastern with break out plays to get NU a 1-0 led.  Jessica Lien
(Kelly Tapani) was able to score on the first break out of the game for
the Huskies, early in the match.  In the second, things got more wild, as
sticks came up and some of the best skating of the invitational
occurred.  Concordia tied the game on a power play when Beth Beagan
(Nancy Deschamps, Michelle Johansson) roofed a wonderful back side
setup.  The Stinger's passing on that power play was superb!  In the
final period, Cammi Granato (Deschamps, Kellie Rae Ryan) scored a
pseudo-power play goal when Concordia put Bye and Granato on the same
line.  They showed great patience in their own zone waiting for the
opening to happen.  When it did, they were up the ice and in on net like
lightning.  It was a stunning move!  The Stingers made it 1-3 from a
face-off when Laurie Cartman (Granato, Karie Colpitts) put home the
killer pass from Granato.  There was less than five minutes to go at that
point, but Northeastern still tried to come back.  CU closed out the
scoring with an empty net goal by Anne Rodrigue (Beagan).
 
At times Concordia played great.  At other times they lacked good team
play.  Perhaps too much individuals doing their own thing?  However with
the puck movement they have and skating edge, they can beat just about
any team I can think of (Brown-Concordia could be a tremendous
match!!!).  The woman of the match was again Beth Beagan.  Her super
skating, and team effort play, including back checking, was wonderful.
Beagan can be lazy, but usually is my kind of player: fast, skillful and
smart.  Beagan's linemate Rodrigue can make some excellent setup passes.
Granato had another good match, showing some fine moves, good puck
carrying skills and lovely finishing.  Her partner Colpitts made some
nice attacking moves.  Deschamps had an extremely good passing day.  Her
mate Karyn Bye made some fantastic passes on the power play.  The defense
was led by Johansson.  She is so cool under fire.  Jennifer Plumb was the
other defender that impressed with her steady play, good reads and quick
reactions to intercept passes.  Overall I suspect I have not seen
Concordia at their best.
 
Northeastern would have done much better in their earlier matches if they
had skated in them like they did today.  For much of the game their quick
break out plays were neutralizing the power game of Concordia.  Bree
Cheatham was their woman of the match.  She is a tower of strength out
there.  It was good to see her match her skills against some of the best
players in the world and fair well.  Emily Sweeney had a superb weekend.
The first-year defender played extremely well tying up her player.  Kim
Flatt stood up and made many big saves in net.  She is one of the key
players for the Huskies.  Keri-Anne Allan also remained cool under fire
in her own zone and provided some good break out passes.  Up front,
Danyel Howard showed some good fore-checking skills.  Tapani, who had to
leave the game with an injury in the second period, did some good
back-checking, but also took some dumb penalties.  Lien played very well
and made a couple of exciting solo rushes.  Emily Pemrick also found warp
drive and led a few rushes.  Overall, a very good effort by Northeastern.
 
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 good shooting
 rhun
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