Riveters Surge Past Whale in Offensive Showcase
Riveters Bounce Back in Connecticut (@NWHL/Twitter)
Northford, CT - On Sunday, the Connecticut Whale and New York Riveters met in Northford, Connecticut for an NWHL battle. Both teams coming off loses on Friday night were looking to get back into the win column and jump into second place of the league standings. After Boston, the musical chairs between the other three teams vying for home ice during the Isobel Cup Playoffs continued this weekend.
Connecticut fresh off a 8-4 loss to Boston, got three goals from Haley Skarupa in the third period alone. The Whale picked up right where they left off, scoring four goals in the first period. Micaela Long got the Whale on the board just 18 seconds into the game with a quick strike off of the stick of Nicole Kosta. Less than two minutes later, Kelly Babstock rifled one from just inside the blue line to double the Connecticut lead to 2-0. New York... well... Tatiana Rafter came to play! Six minutes into the frame, Rafter picked up her first of the game and about three minutes later added a second to even the game at two. Skarupa got the Whale back in front with a score at the 11 minute mark for Connecticut and Kosta added the fourth goal of the period for the Whale. The Riveters were in a two goal deficit and were outshot 19-8 in the first frame.
New York must've gotten some strong words in the first intermission from the leaders in the locker room. The second was a completely different period for the Riveters scoring four unanswered to storm back and take a 6-4 lead. Rafter got on the board again midway through the period for her first hat trick this season. Madison Packer added back to back goals in a two minute span to tie the game and then take the lead. Janine Weber on a great effort put home the sixth goal for Riveters with a second remaining the the period.
Connecticut wouldn't go quietly, Cydney Roesler brought the Whale within one with just under 14 minutes left in regulation. Packer picked up a hat trick of her own with her third goal coming with five minutes remaining. Weber put the game on ice when she netted her second of the game and gave the Riveters an 8-5 lead. Sam Faber added a late goal for Connecticut to make the final 8-6.
Fitzgerald and the defense struggled to keep the Whale in check during the first period, but the adjustments made in the second and third allowed the offense to play much more freely than I have seen the Riveters play ever. The Whale gave up 16 goals this weekend in two games, defense will have to be a priority if they hope to make an Isobel cup playoff run.
