Huskies Win NSA Rivalry Game in Decisive Manner

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving vacation only means one thing for the Northwood girls’ hockey team: NSA Game. The traditional game with the cross-town rival always brings pressure, intensity, and nerves. But this year, the Huskies had a new feeling going into the Featured Game: Confidence.

The confidence the girls felt stemmed from a successful first two months on the ice, some unique team chemistry, and a true belief that their talent and work ethic would prevail. The game started as usual for a Northwood vs. NSA game, with some physical play, lots of cheering from the crowd, and concentrated forechecking by both teams. After a nervous first two minutes, the Huskies settled in and started taking control of the game, getting off some high quality shots and forcing the NSA defense to cough the puck up with their speed and finesse. Less than four minutes in, the Huskies work was rewarded when Erin K. received a puck at the blue line from Cailey H. and took a low wrist shot that beat the Mountaineer goalie. A shifty NSA player evened the score later in the period but the Huskies never bowed down. They kept working, killing off two penalties of their own before getting the chance to go on the power play. Once on the PP, Grace D. scored the go-ahead after Eva M. dished it to her.

Watch first period game clips:

Visit the NWHuskiesHockey youtube page for the entire first period:

http://www.youtube.com/user/NWHuskiesHockey

The second period saw the same intensity as the first for the Huskies while the Mountaineers tried to reserve their efforts and played a more passive forecheck. This allowed the Huskies’ defense to use their passing and stickhandling skills to break out of the zone with speed and caused the Mountaineers defense to tire. The never-give-up mentality of the Huskies kept through the 2^nd period when Cassie K. banged home a rebound from Cailey H.’s shot and scored at the buzzer to take the Huskies into the locker room up two goals.

Cassie K. scored again in the third on another rebound to extend the lead by three. The Huskies found themselves in some penalty trouble late in the period, with two of their best penalty killers in the box, but the team dug deep and killed off the 5v3 for almost two full minutes. A defensive zone face-off loss by the Huskies led to a quick shot through a screen that beat Megan M. late in the game, but the Huskies never worried as they held the two goal lead for the win. Megan M. played a fabulous game in net, making 19 saves, and Erin K. won the hard hat award for her consistent effort and intensity.

With the win, Northwood goes into their Thanksgiving break with a 13-3-2 record. They’ll take some time off during the vacation, but will need to be ready for their second league weekend of the season in Cicero, NY when they return.

Northwood has Highs and Lows in League Play

The Northwood girls’ team hit some road bumps in their smooth season at their first league tournament of the year. Playing in Stanstead, Quebec, the girls faced the other four McMaster division league opponents: Rothesay-Netherwood School (RNS), King’s Edgehill School (KES), Stanstead, and Rice.

Opening up against RNS, the girls’ bus legs showed. They didn’t have the jump in the first, but luckily, either did RNS. Both teams played in the neutral zone and on the outside of the rink for a majority of the first period. After an ice cut, the Huskies came out ready to go. They scored in the first shift of the second, when Nicole M. battled for a rebound goal. Nicole scored again half way through the second after some nice puck movement in the offensive zone. Megan M. played the game in net and earned the shut-out, turning away twenty shots.

On Saturday morning, Northwood came out flat again against a young and enthusiastic KES. Being new to the league, KES had something to prove, and they proved it Saturday morning. Northwood scored first when Nicole M. put another rebound home, but they still played uninspired after the goal. KES eventually tied it and went on to win the game, giving the Huskies their second loss of the season.

After the disappointing loss against KES, the Huskies knew they needed some quality team bonding. Using the bus ride back to the hotel, each bus worked together to come up with a “sing-off” entry. Although the outcome of having fun and working together was successful, it was also pretty clear that it’s unlikely that anyone on the Huskies team is going to go on to a musical career.

Saturday night, the Huskies had to face the home team, Stanstead Spartans. Knowing it would be a tough and physical game, the Huskies were rested and prepared. This time, they had intensity from the first drop of the puck. They played to an even first period and then the scoring began when Alyson M. blasted a shot from the point and Issy R. redirected it for her first Northwood goal. Stanstead answered back right away, but the Huskies were able to regain the lead when Nicole M. found another loose puck around the net and put it home after a few whacks. The lead didn’t last long though, as Stanstead scored from the top of the circles off of a 1v1. They scored again from the same spot a few minutes later to make it 3-2. Although the Huskies continued to battle and had many chances when they pulled their goalie, they couldn’t find a way to even it up. The Spartans slid a puck in the net for an empty-netter that left the Huskies defeated 4-2.

In the final contest of the weekend, Northwood faced Rice Knights. In typical fashion, it was a back-and-forth game between the two teams. Northwood scored first when Alyson M. had an end-to-end rush on the penalty kill and beat the goalie with a deke. Then, Nicki C. added another point on the board when she found a rebound and slid it home to close out the first period. Rice scored in the second period to make it close and then again early in the third when Northwood was in penalty trouble, killing a 5v3 for two full minutes. Rice scored again late in the third to go ahead, but when Northwood had their own power play, a minute later, they knew it was now or never. After a brief time-out, the Huskies were able to convert their plan when Cailey H. found a rebound to tie it up. The game ended in a tie, with both teams receiving a point for their efforts.

Northwood now stands with a 12-3-2 record in the overall season and three points in NAPHA league play.

Huskies Sweep Rice in Front of Home Crowd

In their first home weekend of the season, the Northwood girls’ hockey team put on a show for their families and friends. Facing a two game series against Rice Knights from Burlington, VT, the huskies were hoping to keep their winnings ways alive in familiar territory.

Saturday afternoon’s game in Saranac Lake started at a quick pace from the start. Both Northwood and Rice came out aggressive, trying to keep momentum. Less than half way through the first half, Northwood’s speedy forechecking led to a Rice turnover. Rachel L slid the puck to Lauren B who moved the goalie out of position for Northwood’s first goal. Minutes later, Northwood found themselves in some penalty trouble, having to kill off multiple penalties back-to-back. However, the Northwood penalty kill, with its speed and finesse, is dangerous, as Cailey H showed when she picked off a pass across the blue line and sped down the ice. She took a quick shot and beat the goalie low. Rice beat Megan M with a screened shot in the second to make it close, but Nicole M finished off the game with an empty netter for the win.

On Sunday, Northwood knew that Rice would be better than they were Saturday, but they were determined to get another win. This game was more back-and-forth with Lindsay P making some great saves in the first half to solidify the Northwood defense. Cassie K got the huskies on the board with a power play goal when she found a rebound and put it upstairs. The second half was equally close, but this time goaltender Katey S shut the door on the Rice offense. Finding themselves down a player with 10 minutes to go, Cassie K poked the puck off the Rice player at the top of the umbrella. She used her speed for a clean break and sniped bar-down for her second of the game.

With the sweep, Northwood’s record stands at 11-1-1. This weekend, they’ll head to Stanstead College to play their first league weekend.

Huskies Beat Northern Rivals

With seniors taking the SATs on Saturday, the Northwood girls’ team had an “easy” weekend – only one game against Stanstead College from Stanstead, QC. Both teams traveled to the neutral site of Norwich University, where they were able to take in some great Division 3 women’s college hockey before facing off against each other.

The Huskies got off to a quick start against the Spartans, out-shooting their opponents in the first period and keeping the play primarily in the Spartan’s defensive zone. Rachel L. opened up the scoring when she intercepted a pass from a Spartan D and shot over the goalie’s glove. Lindsay P. made seven saves for the first period shut-out.

The second period saw more even play, with both teams having quality chances. Megan M. played between the pipes and had some big saves, including a breakaway save to keep the Huskies lead. She was awarded the hard hat for her efforts to keep it a scoreless second period. In the third, Stanstead tied it up, but Cailey H. answered back less than a minute later to regain the lead. Bridgit S. scored her first Northwood goal on a wrap around to give the Huskies some cushion, and Katey S. was able to turn away the rest of the Spartan attacks to get the win.

With the win, the Huskies improved their record to 9-1-1. Next weekend, they’ll face Rice for their first home games of the season.