December 11, 2017 at 2:03 p.m.
Short-handed Edge falls to Western Wisconsin 7-1
Short-handed Edge falls to Western Wisconsin 7-1
The Stars scored three times in the second, and three more in the third, to blow the game open and defeat Rhinelander/Antigo 7-1 at the Rhinelander Ice Arena.
The Northern Edge (1-5-1, 0-0-0-1 Great Northern) got a late first-period goal from Lauren Kefalinos to tie the game, but eventually wore down with only 11 skaters active for the contest. The team had five players inactive, mostly due to injuries.
"They had more depth. They had more speed, a little bit more skill and it overwhelmed us as the game went on," Edge coach Kevin Sandstrom said.
Bailey Williams and Mackenzie Mike each recorded hat tricks for Western Wisconsin - a co-op of mid-to-small sized schools near the Minnesota border including New Richmond, Amery, Somerset, Osceola and St. Croix Falls.
The Stars outshot the Edge 52-10 in the contest. Rhinelander/Antigo hung around thanks to a 45-save effort from Antigo sophomore Alicia Turunen, who was asked to turn aside several point-blank chances throughout the contest.
"After the game, she was really down on herself. There's no need for it. She played quite well today," Sandstrom said. "She held us in it, especially late first, early second period. We were still only down three after two periods. We still felt like we had a fighting chance."
Bailey Williams got the scoring started with a breakaway goal 2:53 into the first for Western Wisconsin but Kefalinos answered at the 14:30 mark with her first career goal. She skated in on a breakaway and beat goalie Catherine Magler on a shot through the five-hole.
"Lauren Kefalinos is really starting to come around and turn into a really solid hockey player," Sandstrom said. "I think she's always been one. It's nice. She gets a goal. She gets to see her efforts rewarded and, hopefully, she continues to improve. I think she can be a real nice piece on this team."
Western Wisconsin retook the lead just 52 seconds into the second period as Mike poked home a rebound off a Jade Williams shot. Bailey Williams scored short-handed on a breakaway at the 6:35 mark and Mike put in another rebound goal at the 9:48 mark.
Western Wisconsin tacked on three more goals in the final 7:19 of regulation. Mike scored again on a rebound, Bailey Williams recorded another breakaway goal and Jade Williams scored short-handed with 3:57 to play.
The Edge were without Kourtney Carrico, Danielle Doughty, Evie LeVeque, Nevaeh Forster and Gracie Lenzner, absences that left the edge juggling its forward lines throughout the contest.
"As the game wore on, as we got more tired, as our forwards were able to do less just due to the sheer numbers, we started to ask the defense to do a little too much. That definitely wore on them. Once they wore down, we didn't have much left," Sandstrom said. "It's hard to play a game with these kind of numbers, but I've got to give them props for sticking it out and hustling to the end."
Sandstrom said Kefalinos' goal was an example of good things happening when the puck goes on net, something the Edge has struggled to do so far this season, averaging only 14.3 shots per game through its first seven contests.
"We haven't outshot a team yet this year and that's going to be a focus heading into Tuesday's game," Sandstrom said. "I think there's way too much looking for a perfect shot, a perfect opportunity."
The Edge travels to Medford for a Great Northern Conference contest tonight.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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