The Adrian College women’s hockey team was in action Friday night for its first of two games this weekend against visiting Concordia University (Wisconsin) at Arrington Ice Arena in a Northern Collegiate Hockey matchup.
The Adrian power play proved to be the difference, striking twice in a 3-0 win.
The Bulldogs (14-5-1, 11-1-1 NCHA) and goaltender Kate Turner pushed their shutout streak to three games. Adrian has not allowed a goal in 211 minutes, 54 seconds of game play.
Turner turned away all 17 shots she faced against Concordia (9-9-1, 7-5-1).
“I just committed to practicing harder and staying focused in games,” Turner said, “and that has really helped me.”
Turner improved to 13-5-1 and dropped her goals-against average to 1.19.
Kristi Zink (two assists), Jacqueline White (one goal, one assist) and Kelly O’Sullivan (two assists) paced the Bulldogs.
Adrian dominated the majority of first-period play in its offensive zone. A couple of Falcon penalties helped the Bulldogs establish a steady attack, and the Bulldogs found the back of the net on the advantage.
After Concordia was able to dump the puck, Zink picked it up from Turner. The senior captain carried the puck through neutral ice and into the Falcon zone. She was able to weave her way behind the net and sent a pass in front that White slammed home.
White’s eighth goal of the season came at 11:16 in the first period and was the only tally of the opening period.
After one, Adrian had outshot the Falcons 16-3.
“It all starts with our penalty kill,” said Adrian coach Chad Davis. “I think over these next few weeks our penalty kill is going to be a key to getting us to where we want to be.”
The second period played the same tune as the first. Adrian was able to get on the board a little earlier this time around, as Tory Harshman found the net on the power play. The Bulldogs were able to move the puck around the blue line, before Harshman wristed one past Concordia goalie Christina Pattengale. White and O’Sullivan picked up the assists on the goal.
The Bulldogs kept up the steady offense the rest of the period, throwing another 16 shots at Pattengale before the second intermission. The Bulldogs headed into the final break up 2-0.
Adrian picked up its first even-strength goal of the game 5:09 into the final stanza. Zink shot from the right point, and Fox redirected the puck past Pattengale and into the net. Zink picked up the primary assist, and O’Sullivan the secondary for the Bulldogs.
The teams would keep each other in check the rest of the way. Adrian added 13 more shots in the third period.
“They are a good team,” Davis said of Concordia. “They have a good goalie and like to just wait for that chance to get a goal, so we will have to be ready (today), too.”
Adrian will face Concordia again this afternoon at Arrington Ice Arena for the back end of the series.
