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Wisconsin-Superior
Yellowjackets
Kiara De Kezel
Yellowjacket Athletics

Women's Hockey David Nelson

Yellowjackets Open 2014-15 Season in the Win Column

Kiara De Kezel agianst St. Scholastica last season
Box Score

Yellowjackets 4, Augsburg 2

After a 2013-14 season that saw the Yellowjackets finish 14-7-6, rejuvenation is the only word to describe the opening contest against Augsburg College.  The Yellowjackets lost six letter winners a year ago to graduation and have many question marks going in.  A golden opportunity lies within the first five games before WIAC play to answer those questions.  The Yellowjackets made the most of that opportunity on Friday night with a 4-2 win over Augsburg College.
 
The Yellowjackets set the tempo out of the gates when Augsburg was hit with a too many players on the ice call at 5:43 of the first period.  Though the Yellowjackets were unsuccessful on the player advantage, it provided a foundation for their next power play opportunity at 15:19 of the first period when Brenna Nakonechny was tagged for a trip.  Freshman Maggie Cragg (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park) prevailed for the Yellowjackets with a goal on the power play at 16:45 to give the Yellowjackets a 1-0 lead.  Emily Heid (Elk River, Minn./Elk River), also a freshman, was credited with the assist. 
 
There was still fight left in the Auggies for the remaining minutes of the first period when Claire Cripps tied the game 1-1 at 18:49.  However, the contest continued to be a game of chess when the Yellowjackets responded at 19:12 of the first period.  This time it was on the shorthanded variety caused by Karen Larson (Blumenort, Manitoba/Steinbach Regional Secondary)'s interference penalty at 18:57 of the first period.  Kiara De Kezel (Deloraine, Manitoba/Deloraine) gave the Yellowjackets a 2-1 lead with a shot to the back of the net in the closing minute of the period, Dani Schultz (Morris, Minn./Morris Area) was credited with the assist.
 
The second period proved to be the same back-and-forth hockey as the first period.  It didn't take Augsburg long to answer when Rachel Hennessy capitalized on Karen Larson (Blumenort, Manitoba/Steinbach Regional Secondary)'s penalty to tie the game 2-2.  The power play goal occurred 0:26 into the second period. 
 
The third period was all Yellowjackets, and the play of freshman duo Heid and Cragg was a reason why.  They continued their dominance on Auggie defenders at 9:03 of the third period when Heid slipped a shot past Auggie goaltender Erika Allen to give the Yellowjackets a 3-2 lead.  Cragg had the lone assist on the game-winning goal.

The game was put to rest when Karen Larson (Blumenort, Manitoba/Steinbach Regional Secondary) tallied an empty net goal at 19:51 of the third period to give the Yellowjackets a 4-2 lead.  The Yellowjackets outshot the Auggies 27-19 in the contest.
 
Megan Leikkari (Thunder Bay, Ontario/Westgate CV&I) received the win in net for the Yellowjackets, making 17 saves in the process.  Allen stopped 23 shots for the Auggies.
 
The Yellowjackets (1-0-0, 0-0-0 WIAC) will return to Wessman Arena tomorrow, Nov. 1, where they'll face Augsburg College.  Puck is set to drop at 1:00 p.m.
 
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Players Mentioned

Kiara De Kezel

#18 Kiara De Kezel

F
5' 7"
Senior
Karen Larson

#7 Karen Larson

F
5' 6"
Junior
Megan Leikkari

#30 Megan Leikkari

G
5' 7"
Junior
Dani Schultz

#6 Dani Schultz

F
5' 4"
Senior
Emily Heid

#8 Emily Heid

D
5' 4"
Freshman
Maggie Cragg

#20 Maggie Cragg

D
5' 5"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Kiara De Kezel

#18 Kiara De Kezel

5' 7"
Senior
F
Karen Larson

#7 Karen Larson

5' 6"
Junior
F
Megan Leikkari

#30 Megan Leikkari

5' 7"
Junior
G
Dani Schultz

#6 Dani Schultz

5' 4"
Senior
F
Emily Heid

#8 Emily Heid

5' 4"
Freshman
D
Maggie Cragg

#20 Maggie Cragg

5' 5"
Freshman
D