Late Minnesota Goal Sinks Beauts
December 29, 2018 - Premier Hockey Federation (PHF)
Buffalo Beauts News Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Buffalo Beauts opened up their two-game homestand against the Minnesota Whitecaps with a 2-1 loss at KeyBank Center on Saturday afternoon in Head Coach Cody McCormick's first game behind the Beauts' bench.
The contest marked the third meeting of the season between the Beauts and the Whitecaps, each of which has resulted in a one-goal Minnesota win.
Heading into this game, the Beauts were 4-0 when scoring first, and a late first-period goal gave them the opportunity to improve on that record. With time expiring on a Minnesota power play, Beauts defenseman Blake Bolden jumped up in the play and made no mistake on a centering pass from Julianna Iafallo. Bolden's shorthanded goal was her first tally in a Beauts uniform and had the team up 1-0 heading into the second period.
Special teams were the story of the second period as the Beauts found themselves in trouble with three minor penalties. Kendall Coyne Schofield evened the game at 1-1 midway through the period with the man advantage.
The game's second goal from a defenseman was ultimately the decider late in the contest. In what seemed to be a game destined for overtime, Minnesota's Lee Stecklein made a dazzling move around a defender before scoring with just 1:18 remaining in the third.
Despite a shot advantage in favor of Buffalo, former Beauts goaltender Amanda Leveille backstopped Minnesota to victory with 33 saves in her return to Buffalo. Leveille played for the Beauts from 2016 to 2018, capturing an Isobel Cup and NWHL Goaltender of the Year award during her stint with the team.
While acknowledging her former teammate's performance, Beauts forward and NWHL point leader Hayley Scamurra noted that the team has to take better advantage of second chances.
"We know she's a good goalie but we just need to be there more for the rebounds," Scamurra said.
McCormick echoed Scamurra's sentiment in preparation for next game.
"I think [our players] realized that we had a lot of chances," McCormick said. "We had some goal-mouth scrambles that just didn't land on our stick."
The Beauts will cap off their two-game homestand against Minnesota when they return to Harborcenter tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.
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Premier Hockey Federation Stories from December 29, 2018
- Late Minnesota Goal Sinks Beauts - Buffalo Beauts
- Stecklein's Late Goal Propels Whitecaps to Win over Beauts at KeyBank Center - Minnesota Whitecaps
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