Late Friday afternoon at the Husky Tournament at Matthews Arena, the
Providence College Friars were dusted by the Concordia Stingers 1-4.
Concordia used brilliant skating and a fantastic short passing game to
outclass their rival.  It was a great game to watch.
 
The match started fast and furious.  The Stingers were always on the move and
the Friars were giving it their all.  Gradually the visitors from Montreal
took their play to higher realm.  Concordia was using some wonderfully quick
misdirection passes and catching PC out.  Tara Campbell (Corinne Swirsky,
Delaney Collins) gave the Stingers a 0-1 lead when she buried her chance high
into the netting.  The play developed off a series of headman passes, and was
finished by the perfect center out of the corner that left Campbell all alone
in front of net.  Concordia was on song and it was a treat.  Campbell (Lisa-
Marie Breton, Amy Coelho) made it 0-2 Stingers when she finished a lovely
three-way passing play.  Wow!
 
Canadian women's college hockey has a national championship starting this
season.  No graduate students are allowed on the teams.  Coelho, who graduated
from Dartmouth in 1997, is working on an additional undergrad degree at
Concordia.
 
The second period featured much slower play.  Concordia was off the boil.
Providence got their only goal of the contest when fresher Jessica Tabb
converted a breakaway.  The Stinger defense was guilty of giving the puck away
at center ice.  After a series of fruitless PC power plays, Concordia regained
their two goal lead when Karen Kendall scored on a nice solo effort.
 
In the final frame, the Stingers were like a hot knife going through butter.
Their play development and variations were marvelous.  Catherine Bertrand
(Breton, Annie Boucher) concluded the scoring when she received a great setup
pass right in front of net.  Bertrand had the time to unleash a full slapper.
 
Concordia head coach Les Lawton demonstrates how quiet skills can develop
delightful patterns.  His players use each other so well.  Every Stinger
skates well off the puck and helps make that extra bit of space that's so
important in hockey.  The quick sharp passing, and edgy skating is a trademark
of Lawton, and it makes for incredible hockey.  The woman of the match was the
line of Campbell, Swirsky and Annie Suprenant.  They move so well as a unit
and play with style.  Campbell is a real sniper and only needs half a chance
to have the puck in the back of the net.  However the point is, that line
plays excellent hockey.  The line of Monelle Hebert, Andrea Babony and Kendall
flows over the ice.  Kendall is a very talented gunner.  On the blue line,
Marie-Claude Pelletier and Collins are a slick pairing.  They play with an
elegance that's highly effective.  Genevieve Fagnan was the other defender who
made many refined breakup plays.  Overall, if you get a chance to see
Concordia - go!
 
Providence College put a ton of effort into the first part of this match.
They seemed to tire towards the end.  The Friars lack direction, and I believe
the players get frustrated when their output comes to naught.  Tabb was
burning up the ice.  Her timely rushes looked outstanding.  She needs more
support to be more productive.  On defense, fresher Valerie Bono did a
splendid job of filling the passing lanes.  Overall, PC is still looking to
turn it around.
 
 
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 good shooting
 hungerf
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