Yellowjackets 3, Lake Forest 1
While the power play wasn't nearly as effective as it was last night against the Foresters, the University of Wisconsin-Superior women's hockey team brandished its prowess in the even strength game, acquiring the other two points up for grabs in the weekend series with a 3-1 victory over Lake Forest.
The Yellowjackets (3-1-1, 2-0-0 NCHA) were 0-2 on the man advantage and the penalty killing unit held the visiting Foresters (1-2-1) to a mark of 0-5 when they benefitted from an extra skater.
As they did last night, the Yellowjackets snatched the momentum early as Alison Shrift (Traverse City, Mich./West High School) (Traverse City, Mich.) registered her first goal of the season at the 5:08 mark of the opening period. The sophomore snuck her first shot of the afternoon past Lake Forest netminder Jenna Brankin off of assists from Kiara De Kezel (Deloraine, Manitoba/Deloraine) (Deloraine, Manitoba) and Kelsey Firkus (Chilliwack, British Columbia/Chilliwack Senior Secondary) (Chilliwack, British Columbia).
Another anomaly from Friday night was the fact that the Yellowjackets did not monopolize the category of shots on goal in the fashion they were able to in the Friday evening tilt. After one period UWS fired 11 shots on goal while the Foresters made nine attempts.
The scoring would fall by the wayside for the remainder of the first period and throughout the entirety of the second frame as well. Offensive opportunities were sporadic at best, as the squads combined to put just 13 shots on net in the second twenty minute frame.
With the dearth of offense in the second, the beginning of the deciding period was highlighted by the Yellowjackets who went on a game-clinching assault. De Kezel picked up her first career goal from a pass off the stick of Firkus. The freshman's tally was also the first game winner of her young career.
Less than 30 seconds after De Kezel placed the nail in the coffin, Jenn Paul (Paynesville, Minn./Paynnesville) (Paynesville, Minn.) added another score for the Yellowjackets with an unassisted blast through the pads of Brankin.
The Foresters would make good on one of their three shots on goal in the third as Torey Crown broke up the shutout for the Yellowjackets at the 9:49 mark.
Amy Torgerson (Wentzville, Mo./Gilmour Academy) (Wentzville, Mo.) was credited with her second victory of the season, and improved to 2-0-1. The senior stopped 18 of the 19 Forester shots during the game. Brankin received her first defeat of 2011-12, falling to 1-1-0 while turning away 25 of the 28 Yellowjacket shots.
UWS will conclude its seven-game home stand next weekend when it plays host to Adrian College. The puck drop for game one of the series is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Veteran's Day.
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