New York Riveters Shutout Connecticut Whale
Sojung Shin earns first career shutout in first professional win (@NYRiveters/Twitter)
NORTHFORD, CT - The Connecticut Whale came into the weekend looking to go into the Holiday break with a record over .500. At 4-4 the Whale have played much better lately, but played host to a very tough New York Riveters team also in need of a week going into the break.
The Whale, playing only their second home game of the season, dominated possession in the first period, firing 11 shots on Sojung Shin and forcing her to make some big stops throughout the period. On the opposite end, Nicole Stock came in with a 3-1-0 record, good for second best in the league behind Boston's Brittany Ott. New York would get to the Whale goaltender early in the matchup when Courtney Burke took a Janine Weber pass and converted 2:36 into the period to give the Riveters a 1-0 lead. New York could only get six shots on net the remainder of the frame but went into the first intermission holding onto that 1-0 lead.
In the second, both teams played some great hockey and battled up and down the ice. New York outshot Connecticut 7-6 but Stock and Shin were phenomenal in net. Both had to make game changing saves in the period to keep their respective teams in the contest. The second went scoreless into the intermission.
In the third, again the quality of hockey was a delight to any fan. The Whale increased their pressure offensively but could not solve Shin in net. Connecticut took the shot lead in the third, 10-5 and went on to outshoot the Whale 27-18 but could not get on the scoreboard in this matchup. The Riveters got a late goal by Madison Packer to put it away for New York, with the win New York moves into a tie for second with Connecticut going into the break.
Following the game it was announced that Molly Engstrom will be leaving the Connecticut Whale to play overseas.
