NY Riveters Erase Two Four-Goal Deficits For Comeback Win
The New York Riveters complete historic comeback against Connecticut Whale (@NWHL/Twitter)
NEWARK, NJ - The last time the New York Riveters and Connecticut Whale the fans witnessed a 14 goal outburst which saw the Riveters erase two 2-goal deficits to earn an 8-6 victory over the Whale. On Sunday, the two teams again gave fans a game to remember in another 10+ goal affair.
Connecticut came out of the locker room ready to play in the first period and it all started with their new addition to the roster, Zoe Hickel, acquired by the Whale from the Boston Pride. Just a minute into the game Hickel scored her first goal in a Connecticut uniform but also gave the team a spark. Kelly Babstock quickly made it 2-0 just a minute later and Kelli Stack got in on the fun and added a third goal for the Whale in just the first 2:39 of the first.
After some back and forth play, Hickel picked up her second goal of the game midway through the first and just like that the Whale had a commanding 4-0 lead. With under five minutes to play in the frame, Amanda Kessel took a shorthanded opportunity into the Whale zone and found Janine Weber who scored to stop the bleeding. Going into the locker rooms New York outshot Connecticut 13-9 but trailed on the scoreboard 4-1.
The Whale came out strong in the second, applying pressure on the Riveters defense and forcing some big saves in net by Fitzgerald. Kelli Stack scored her second of the game to again put the Whale up by four halfway through the game. However, New York kept chipping away and picked up some momentum when Madison Packer notched a power play goal with under seven minutes to play in the frame.
In the third period it was all New York, the Riveters scored three goals to storm back and even the game at 5-5. Weber picked up her second of the game on a nice assist from Kessel to draw the Riveters within two. Later it was Weber and Rebecca Russo combining to feed Michelle Picard to bring the Riveters within one. Special teams were a big part of the comeback for New York, and late in the third, Miye D'Oench scored another power play goal to level the game at five.
It took New York just 1:10 to score in overtime, a penalty at the end of the third to Hickel gave the Riveters an extra advantage and they did not let the opportunity slip. New York improves to 7-6-3 while Connecticut drops to 4-10-1.
