Millbrook 3 -- Kingswood-Oxford 2
Millbrook came out flying to start the game, and, as has been its habit, kept the puck in the opposing period for several shifts, buzzed the net, and did not score. Visitors Kingswood-Oxford shook off its road legs, stretched the ice, and the pressure subsided, bringing on some good counterattacks at the other end. Both teams played it even for the rest of the period, but Millbrook finally got the bounce it had been waiting for for several league games when the puck rebounded to Patricia McCarthy after a shot by her sister Caroline, and she patiently waited to see some net and buried the opener with two minutes remaining.
The second period saw more of the same, good Millbrook pressure and good K-O counters, with shots in favor of the hosts and good scoring opportunities in favor of the visitors. K-O's Kimberly Spring tied the game on a power play, putting in her own rebound of a brilliant Melissa Rome save, and Caroline McCarthy got the goal back soon thereafter on a strong individual effort and nice backhanded, five-hole finish. Then came a great sequence from the Wyverns, as first Emily Ford converted on a pass from Emily Howard on a perfect two-on-one goal to tie the game again, and then Katrina Earl pulled out one of the great kick saves of the year on an Alexa de la Guardia shot ticketed for the far post.
It was all to play for in the third, the most even of the three periods, and Millbrook got the tip it needed when Olivia Farrell redirected a long shot from Meg Ahern with six minutes on the clock. So close to a league win, the Mustangs dug down, skated hard and comfortably saw out the time remaining. It was a very entertaining game that could have gone either way, and Millbrook was glad to take the break that won it.
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The second period saw more of the same, good Millbrook pressure and good K-O counters, with shots in favor of the hosts and good scoring opportunities in favor of the visitors. K-O's Kimberly Spring tied the game on a power play, putting in her own rebound of a brilliant Melissa Rome save, and Caroline McCarthy got the goal back soon thereafter on a strong individual effort and nice backhanded, five-hole finish. Then came a great sequence from the Wyverns, as first Emily Ford converted on a pass from Emily Howard on a perfect two-on-one goal to tie the game again, and then Katrina Earl pulled out one of the great kick saves of the year on an Alexa de la Guardia shot ticketed for the far post.
It was all to play for in the third, the most even of the three periods, and Millbrook got the tip it needed when Olivia Farrell redirected a long shot from Meg Ahern with six minutes on the clock. So close to a league win, the Mustangs dug down, skated hard and comfortably saw out the time remaining. It was a very entertaining game that could have gone either way, and Millbrook was glad to take the break that won it.
