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Saturday evening at Matthews Arena found the Huskies of Northeastern overpowering the St. Laurent Patriots 6-2. NU coach Heather Linstad has found some good first-year players and continues to bring out the best in her returning players. I found the Huskies to be a stronger squad than I had expected. In the first period, both teams started slow. Just after a St. Laurent power play, Northeastern broke out en masse. First-year wing Catherine Cataldo (Bree Cheatham, Kim Haman) finished the play after the whole team had swooped into the Patriot zone. NU scored on a 5 on 3 power play when Kelly Tapani (Cataldo, Haman) drilled home a nice setup, after the Huskies had won the face-off cleanly. Tapani (Haman, Cataldo) made it 3-0 on another power play when she poked home the puck off a scramble in front of the net. Basically St. Laurent got caught watching as NU skated and passed its way all over the ice. The second period featured the Huskies letting up and the Patriots getting somewhat back in the game. Kim Santoire (Karine Vanasse) was credited with a goal that in fact was only a shot off the post. However the fates also had the refs. not count a clear goal by St. Laurent in the third period. The Patriots found new life with their goal and stepped up the pressure. NU was playing very scattered in its own zone at that point, with individuals trying to do too much. The result was that Sandra Cote (Stephanie Grenon) was able to make the score 3-2 after some good fore-checking. The St. Laurent rally was quickly stopped when Haman made a wonderful solo end to end rush, which she finished with a deadly wrist shot high glove side. That goal settled the Huskies down and got them out of standing around and playing street hockey. In the final period, Tapani (Haman, Cataldo) completed her hat trick to make the score 5-2. The play developed from a number of touch passes as NU brought the puck up the ice. Kim Haman was outstanding in providing both a target for the passes and than sending them on in such a way that the team flowed up the ice. It was Northeastern at its best, swooping and changing the point of attack and thus making it very difficult for their opponent to react. Dori Hoagland (Courtney King) finished the scoring after King had made a driving play to chip the puck of the post. Hoagland's follow up was a relatively easy shot over the goalie. St. Laurent does not have a lot of skillful players. Their coach Henri Izard used his big line of Sandra Bockus, Grenon and Julie Pelletier much of the time. Those players also played with many other mates in a "What's-my-line" setup. Goalie Mylene Benoit had a very good glove, but played a tad on the unsteady side. The Patriot defense found themselves watching play too much of the time. Overall they were a team with good spirit, but they need much work on the basic skills to become a strong squad. The one thing Northeastern needs to work on the most is team speed. If they develop better skating as a team, their already strong transition game would become electric. The defense is very strong, and the offense can be huge, but at this point its a question of how much they can develop as a team that will see how far they can go in the league. Goaltender captain Kim Flatt played a steady standup game. First-year goalie Andrea Rocha looked a fair backup in warm up. The defense is lead by Bree Cheatham who looked even stronger and more confident of herself last night. Cheatham is an excellent skater and reads the play so well. Her mate was assistant captain Kim Drews who showed some fine skating. Together they are a very strong pair who will see much ice time this year. Missi Werner can be a very good defender when she is in control of her game. She is joined by first-year sensation Keri-Anne Allan. Allan is a smart hockey player who reads the game well. Last night she looked a little edgy out there, but still managed to show that she can go it on her own! The third defensive pair was first-year player Emily Sweeney, who needs to work on her skating, and Julie Otto who plays an intense style. On offense the Huskies were lead by the first line of Cataldo, Haman and Tapani. That line may not stay together as both Angela Scerra and Danyel Howard did not play last night. However as is obvious from the goal scoring summary above, that line played very well. Haman has a killer shot and last night made some wonderful touch passes that made the line and team click. Tapani seems to be coming into her own. She has stepped up her play and was a major force on the ice. Her skating is much improved! First-year player Cataldo is an excellent team player and provided many lovely passes. At this points she glides too much. If she learns to move those feet more, she could become a super player. The second line was Hoagland, King and Jessica Lien. They play with a lot of spirit and do have the skill to finish some pretty plays, but they need to develop their skating if they are to play the major role they would like to play. The third line of Emily Pemrick, captain Caroline Heatley and Jessica Wagner will probably see more time with some of the players who sat out last night. First-year player Pemrick caught my eye with her hustle and drive style of play. Like her mates, she has the potential to develop into an interesting player. I would not be surprised to see her on a higher line soon. Overall the Huskies have the players and coaching to make another run at the ECAC title. The positive attacking style they use, coupled with a solid defense makes them look very good. Once again I find myself very excited about the abilities of the Northeastern Women. _____________ / good shooting rhun _____________/