Whitecaps Shine Before Huge State of Hockey Crowd in 5-2 Victory
December 15, 2019 - Premier Hockey Federation (PHF)
Minnesota Whitecaps News Release
Call it the Revenge of the Whitecaps.
After dropping their previous two home games to the gritty Riveters - one in OT in October, and yesterday in a shootout - the defending Isobel Cup champions were back in top-flight form, overwhelming their visitors in a 5-2 win before an overflow crowd in Saint Paul.
A fan commented in the Twitch chat during the game that the Whitecaps looked like the juggernaut Minnesota team of last season. They sure did.
All-star goaltender Amanda Leveille was on top of her game, stopping 19 of 21 shots for the victory. Former Riveters forward Audra Richards scored two goals in the second period, while Nicole Schammel, one of the league's top rookies this season, had a goal and an assist.
"We were determined," said Minnesota forward Allie Thunstrom, who has been a standout all season. "We've had a rough couple of weeks, losing a 3-0 lead against Buffalo, and coming out and winning our first games at home but then losing the second. We wanted to come out and prove that we weren't just a one-day-a-weekend team."
Richards added, "We were very determined because this game decided whether we were in second or fourth place, so it was a big win and very important for us."
Stephanie Anderson opened the scoring for Minnesota just 5:27 into the game with an assist by Nina Rodgers, who was added to the lineup by co-head coaches Jack Brodt and Ronda Engelhardt after the Whitecaps lost 3-2 in a shootout on Saturday.
Defender Sydney Baldwin - another one of Minnesota's standout rookies - scored in the third period to complete the scoring for the Whitecaps.
Showing they have no quit in their game, the Riveters continued to battle despite being down 5-0 late. Captain Madison Packer's wraparound goal ended Leveille's shutout bid, and Kate Leary scored with three minutes left.
Despite the brief, late surge by the visitors, the incredible Whitecaps fans went home happy, knowing they just saw their team at their near-dominant best.
"The fans are great, second to none," said Richards. "Having them here and cheering, it really just propels us forward as a team and keeps us energized for the game. We come out and play hard for them."
The Whitecaps are back in action next weekend with two games against the Connecticut Whale at Danbury. The Riveters' next game is the Labatt Blue NWHL Buffalo Believes Classic on Dec. 28. Tickets for all games are available at NWHL.zone/tickets.
Premier Hockey Federation Stories from December 15, 2019
- Whitecaps Shine Before Huge State of Hockey Crowd in 5-2 Victory - Minnesota Whitecaps
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