Late Saturday afternoon at the FleetCenter, the University of New
Hampshire Wildcats won the first US Nationals by defeating the Bears of
Brown 4-1.  It was not a great game, but the final looked good at the
larger venue.  UNH found their scoring touch on the foreign ice and thus
won the championship.
 
As the match began, both teams were wiring the place.  Play was slow.  The
Bears scored first when Melissa Rennison (Jill Graat) finished off a nice
1-2 break by hitting the back of the net.  UNH came back with a power play
goal when Tina Carrabba (Winny Brodt, Michelle Thornton) deflected home a
blast from the point.
 
In the second, the Wildcats were moving better.  Brown was looking a tad
tight.  Kali Wilson (Kim Knox) gave New Hampshire a 2-1 lead when she
chipped one in off a scramble at the side of the goal.  UNH established a
two goal gap next on the best goal of the contest.  Winny Brodt threaded
the super long ball pass to Kerry Maher (Brodt) who went in all alone on
Brown's goalie Alison Brewer.  Maher made a dramatic deke and tucked the
puck in the net.  Lovely goal!
 
In the final interval, Brown tried to come back, but the Wildcats did the
only scoring.  Melissa McKenzie (Carrabba, Maher) redirected a centering
pass on a power play to make it 4-1.  The replay seemed to show McKenzie
had touched the high pass legally, before taking her stick too high.
 
The FleetCenter is a fair place to watch a hockey game.  You are somewhat
far away, but the slightlines are basically good.  In general, higher is
better.  I would like to thank all the HockeyEast fans who did show up
early to see the women's national final.  Merci beaucoup!
 
Brown played well.  They were not rolling as well as they have been in the
last few games and did not get the key scores they needed.  The Brown
woman of the match was Brewer.  She held the Bears in this one, especially
with some big, early saves.  While UNH's Brodt was a good choice for
tourney MVP, Brewer would have been an excellent choice also.  Winning the
ECAC Championship and making the National final made this a great season
for Brown.
 
New Hampshire had more zip today and was able to convert.  The Wildcat
passing game created the big chances.  Fresher forward Thornton had a
stellar match using her dynamic movement well.  First-year defender Brodt
played another fine team game.  She can really lay on the sweet pass.
Maher's goal was marvelous.  The sophomore used her speed well all day.
The UNH woman of the match was fresher blue liner Brandi Kerns.  She has
amazing range and is very smart.  Whether she's firing in a point shot
over a sprawling opponent, or just providing coverage Kerns is wonderful.
UNH completed its double, taking the ECAC League title and the US
Nationals.
 
 _____________
/
 good shooting
 hungerf
_____________/
 
HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
[log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.