2017 Isobel Cup Semifinals Recap
Boston Pride Advance to 2nd Isobel Cup Final
By Kyle Wescott
U.S National Team Players Announced Together (@TheBostonPride/Twitter)
BOSTON, MA - Coming off of the team’s first loss in 14 months, the Boston Pride were hoping to become the first team to punch its ticket into Sunday’s Isobel Cup Final. With recent news of the US National team players decision to boycott the upcoming World Championships in Plymouth, Michigan, there were worries that it could also affect the play on the ice for the USNT members that also play in the NWHL.
Prior to the game, the Pride and the Whale did not announce the starters as is tradition in the NWHL, instead, the rink PA announcer announced the members of the USNT from their respective teams. The fans cheered loudly for all team members as they were introduced. The atmosphere in the Warrior Ice Arena was clearly in support of the USNT members stance for pay equality. MyWSports asked Alex Carpenter after the game how the news about the US National team affected the play of the Pride and she told us “It was a bit of a release (to be on the ice)… and it was nice to go out and play.”
The first period started slow for both teams. The Pride had a power play opportunity just two minutes into the game with a tripping penalty on Kelly Babstock. Unfortunately, the Pride were unable to capitalize with the extra skater. The best opportunity during the two minutes was for the Whale’s Haley Skarupa, she poked the puck away from the Pride and made a great rush attempt on goaltender Brittany Ott. However, Ott was able to keep the puck out of the net. Carpenter would start off the scoring for the Pride taking a beautiful pass from behind the net from Hilary Knight and sending it to the back of the net. Carpenter would add her second goal of the period just five minutes later grabbing a rebound from Lexi Bender on the back side of goaltender Nicole Stock and extending the Pride lead to 2-0.
The second period was controlled by the Pride. Bender scored first making it 3-0, this time Bender was waiting on the backdoor and got the assist from Carpenter. The Whale got a goal back with a power play goal from Dana Trivigno while the Pride’s Rachel Llanes was serving two minutes for a holding penalty. Trivigno made the connection with assists from Haley Skarupa and Kelli Stack, the rare Boston College trifecta. The run for the Whale was short lived, as the Pride answered with a goal from the league MVP Brianna Decker. Carpenter was once again on the assist, to regain a three goal lead for the Pride. Then Jillian Dempsey got in the action with a goal of her own on a beautiful 2 on 1 rush with Meghan Duggan. The second period would end 5-1 in favor of the Pride.
The third period looked very similar to the second period with the Pride dominating play and the scoreboard. The Pride again tallied three goals to the one goal for the Whale. Kelli Stack scored first beating Ott glove side. 90 seconds later Gigi Marvin scored on a power play, extending the lead again to four goals. Then Hilary Knight chimed in, scoring back to back goals to finish the onslaught 8-2.
Tempers flared a bit in the third period. With nine minutes to go Dana Trivigno gave Brianna Decker a little shove and Decker took a swing at Trivigno’s cage. However, Decker was the one called for the penalty on the retaliation. With three minutes to go Trivigno was not done wreaking a little havoc. Known for her aggressive style, she checked Meghan Duggan into the back of the Pride net. The referees this time caught the correct offender and sent Trivigno to the showers early with a game misconduct penalty.
After the game, much of the discussion was about the US National team news. Anya Battaglino said that the response from all players has been supportive and cohesive. When asked if other NWHL players may play in place of the USNT members so that the team can still compete in the World Championships, she said “We truly believe that you are with us or against us.” When MyWSports asked Hilary Knight if the players felt that they would have more support, since the Soccer USNT has gone down this same path in the past year? Knight agreed saying “US Soccer has made a lot of strides in many ways. A lot iconic leaders on their side have reached out in support of us.”
As for the game itself, Brittany Ott discussed her performance and joked about the crossbar giving her support on two occasions in the 3rd period. “I felt good out there tonight, the puck found me pretty well and even found the post a couple of times. Gotta really dial it in for these playoff games, everything’s on the line.” Alex Carpenter was happy to be moving on, but when asked what the Pride need to do to prepare for either team on Sunday she said “We’re not concerned about who we’re playing, we’re concerned with playing how we did tonight. I think that was a good testament to how our team can play and we can build off of that.”
The Pride move on the Isobel Cup Finals for the second straight year and will face the winner of the New York Riveters and Buffalo Beauts Semi-Final, which will be played at 7:30 on Friday and can be seen on the NWHL.zone Cross Ice Pass.
The Buffalo Beauts Stun the New York Riveters
By: Luis Sanchez
Beauts upset #2 seed for second consecutive year (@TroyParla/NWHL)
NEWARK, NJ - Coming into the Isobel Cup playoffs a lot of people had predicted the Boston Pride and New York Riveters to advance into the finals. Well the Buffalo Beauts didn't get the memo and for the second consecutive year played spoiler, sending the #2 seed home early. The Beauts finished the regular season 6-10-1 with three of the wins coming against rival New York. The teams split the season series 3-3 coming into the semifinal showdown.
Prior to the game, the USNT players were announced instead of the starting lineups to show solidarity for equality. The crowd at the Barnabas Health Hockey House gave a incredible roar for these players when they were announced.
The first period began with the Riveters putting pressure on Buffalo early and often. New York controlled the puck for a majority of the period but could not convert on two power play chances early in the first. When Buffalo went on their second power play it was just 10 seconds later that Megan Bozek blasted a shot past Katie Fitzgerald at 14:47. Although New York outshot Buffalo, 11-3, the Beauts were the team ahead 1-0 at the first intermission.
Amanda Leveille got the start in net for Buffalo and performed just as she did in the National Championship game a year ago for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. In the second, Emily Janiga skated in on Fitzgerald and snuck one past the net minder to give the Beauts a 2-0 lead. New York continued to dominate on the offensive end but the defense struggled with the Beauts forwards. Tatiana Rafter tried to get the Riveters going with a goal just four minutes after the Janiga score. As the period came to a close, Janiga found herself again with a great chance to increase the score by two again and she buried home the opportunity. The Beauts took a 3-1 lead into the second intermission.
As New York always seems to do, they battled back. Just 11 seconds into the start of the third, Janine Weber caught Leveille by surprise and the Riveters were down by one. New York applied pressure in the offensive zone for a majority of the third period but the defense became their kryptonite. Recently signed Northeastern grad, Hayley Scamurra scored her second goal in as many games to put Buffalo ahead 4-2 with under eight minutes to go.
Leveille did the rest for the Beauts as New York went on to outshoot Buffalo 36-12 in the contest. Last season, Buffalo upset Connecticut to reach the Isobel Cup Finals. The Boston Pride and Buffalo Beauts will meet in Lowell, MA for the Isobel Cup Championship Sunday at 6pm ET.
