Sunday afternoon, in the year of the Tiger, at Matthews Arena, the
Northeastern Huskies stormed the White Mules of Colby 12-0.  The waves of
Husky attackers poured down on the Colby net and proved irresistible.
 
The match started with NU scoring in the opening minute.  Crystal Baumgartner
(Jennifer Santerre) stuffed her chance when she received a nice setup from
behind the net.  After that, both teams established good flowing hockey.
However with the Huskies playing four lines to the Mules' two, gradually the
swell of the NU pressure started to hurl Colby back.
 
In the second, no one was moving their feet, and it looked like the game had
been left in the locker room.  Slowly Northeastern got it back together and
started taking it to the Mules.  Emily Pemrick (Jaime Totten) made it 2-0 when
Totten burst forward and after a scramble in front of net, Totten banked her
shot in off Pemrick.  Hilary Witt (Totten, Kelly Martin) gunned her shot high
into the netting on a power play to extend the lead.  Totten made the play
with a lovely soft touch pass that set Witt free.  Santerre (Baumgartner,
Colleen Coen) cut one in from close range to the high far post during another
power play.  Coen (Kathryn Waldo) made it 5-0 when she finished off a
brilliant, back door, power play feed from Waldo.  Lovely goal!  Colby was
looking like school was out.  Beth Claggett finished the middle period scoring
when she went solo down the left wing, cut in on net and drilled her
opportunity.
 
In the final frame, the White Mules made a few nice counterattacks, but in
general it was all NU.  Jo Lee Luke (Claggett, Sarah Smythe) made a fine
second effort while falling and knocked in a rebound.  Lisa Giovanelli (Coen)
made it 8-0, when for once, Coen made the pass and setup Giovanelli at the far
post.  Claggett (Smythe, Luke) banged in a power play rebound at the side of
the goal.  Pemrick (Giovanelli, Coen) sent the Huskies into double digits when
she drove right and tucked in at the near post.  Witt (Stephanie Acres) added
an additional tally when she stabbed home a rebound.  Martin (Emily Sweeney,
Totten) finished the Husky scoring waves when she roofed her try at the far
post.
 
Colby did not have a good day.  They looked exhausted from yesterday's game.
Goalie Katie Mangan stood her ground well against the relentless NU pressure.
She gave up many rebounds, and unfortunately most were not cleared.  Senior
captain defender Ann Mortenson used her strong reads and good puck movement to
help her side out of danger.  Fresher blue liner Courtney Kennedy likes to
make solo dashes up the ice.  She has a lot of power, but needs to learn her
limits and how to use her mates.  Meaghan Sittler made a number of telling
rushes with her elegant style.  She did not get a whole lot of support.
Overall, a very frustrating day for the Mules.
 
Northeastern was on a roll after yesterday's big win over previously
undefeated UNH.  When the Huskies skate and keep their paws moving all the
time, they are a force.  NU may have the best defensive corp in the ECAC.
Today all six blue liners broke up the incoming plays and moved the puck
forward with great skill.  The woman of the match was defender Totten.  Her
quickness is marvelous.  Totten anticipates so well and is able to pull off
the perfect counter.  Fresher Martin saw time on the blue line and used her
strong skating effectively to help shut down Colby.  In goal, fresher Erika
Silva faced the shooter well.  Up front, the line of Waldo, Santerre and "Die
Bomber" (Baumgartner) was running and gunning.  Waldo led the line with her
back-checking and playmaking skills.  Santerre was moving extremely well and
making some excellent passes.  Baumgartner has having a go and making the most
of her big shot.  Witt displayed her numerous talents and powered Northeastern
forward.  The other standout was the unit of freshers Claggett and Luke and
junior Smythe.  They buzzed over the ice and had a lovely blend of skills.
Overall, it was good to see the Huskies letting it rip.
 
 
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 hungerf
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