(07Feb99)  Sunday afternoon at Matthews the Huskies of Northeastern edged the
University of New Hampshire Wildcats 3-2.  It was a tremendous match.  Both
teams played some fabulous skate and pass hockey.  It was a real treat!
 
The first period found both teams laying it on the line and going all out.
UNH was using their polished passing patterns to periodically produce
pressure.  Meanwhile, the Husky team speed was super.  Up and down action took
turns with first one team and then the other applying the pressure.  The
Wildcats opened the scoring with a power play marker from Samantha Holmes
(Michelle Thornton, Carisa Zaban).   UNH was moving the puck and finding the
weak side open player extremely well.  NU came storming back when Hilary Witt
went on a long rush and laid off the perfect soft feed to fresher Brooke
Whitney (Witt, Kathryn Waldo) who deked her way past the UNH goalie and tucked
the puck in.
 
As the middle frame started, both teams were off the boil.  Team defense,
which had been a large part of the opening period, became dominant.  The
preferred tactic soon was: jam it in.  New Hampshire's first-year Kelly
McManus (Sabrina Monsen, Liz Monteith) gave them a 1-2 lead early on when she
drilled home a high shot from the top of the slot.  Both squads came up with
some good scoring chances.  NU tied the game after a spell of heavy pressure.
Betsy Dyke (Nicole Lewis, Jennie Setaro) slammed in a loose rebound at the far
post to complete a big push.
 
In the third, the teams were looking a tad tired.  Both coaches had been using
shortened benches, but as the game's pace wore on, they tested their squad
depth.  Northeastern got the go-ahead goal when Jaime Totten made a brilliant
long ball pass to Colleen Coen (Totten).  The sophomore winger went on a solo
lark, and this time made it pay off, as she deked the netminder and stuffed
her try into the back of the net.  Things were tense for the rest of the
contest.  Both sides executed some killer plays down the stretch.  NU goalie
Erika Silva was sliding across and shutting the door and helping her team
close it out.  UNH's Alicia Roberts also had to come up big and snuff out some
dangerous Husky breakaways.  In the end, Northeastern was able to celebrate a
huge victory.
 
New Hampshire was left with the solace that they had played some excellent
hockey.  The sharp passing they have, always has them in the game.  They have
a number of explosive attackers with slick moves and refined stick skills.
The colossal combo of Zaban and Melisa Heitzman was fabulous.  Zaban has
lightning quick moves and Heitzman has an attacking edge that lets her go at
and through defenders.  Together with linemate Tina Carrabba they form a
lethal line.  Thornton was the other stunning Wildcat forward.  Her long
penetrating runs were classic.  In goal, Roberts came up with some key saves
to keep the game always within reach.  Brandi Kerns used her warp drive and
maneuverability to meet the Husky challenge on the New Hampshire blue line.
Kerns' crisp passes seem to always be on the tape.  The UNH woman of the match
was junior defender Jaime DeGriselles.  She played a smart heads-up contest.
DeGriselles was able to breakup many scoring chances and dished out some
lovely setups of her own.  Overall, a tough weekend road trip for the
Wildcats, but I somehow expect them to be around when the honors are passed
out.
 
Northeastern played some great hockey.  The speed they had today won the match
for them.  However, the Husky passing was pretty insipid.  As you practice, so
will you perform.  Still, the team deserves high marks for pulling out this
big victory on their quest for home ice in the playoffs.  The deadly duo of
Witt and Whitney led the strikeforce.  They clearly connect extremely well.
Fresher Lewis provided a ton of hustle as her fore-checking produced
turnovers.  First-year Brooke White was using her pace to advantage.  Her
transition moves are delicious.  In the defensive end, the pairing of Erine
Metcalf and Setaro was doing all the little things well.  Metcalf was using
her strength and Setaro her mobility to keep the Wildcats off balance.
Fresher Erica Archambeau stepped up and made the big play at the blue line.
In goal, Silva was sensational.  Her big pad saves won this match for the
Huskies.  The NU woman of the match was senior captain Totten.  She was
burning up the ice at both ends.  First Totten would be back rising up to the
demands of defense, and then there she would be, up front making a telling
pass or an amazing far post burst.  Totten did it all.  It was a luscious
success and an amazing game.
 
 _____________
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 good shooting
 hungerf
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