December 18, 2017 at 11:52 a.m.
Northern Edge falls to Arrowhead 4-1
Northern Edge falls to Arrowhead 4-1
Three numbers stood out on the scoresheet - 2, 12 and 17. Those were the jersey numbers of the Warhawks' top line of Mary Kremer, Megan Walmer and Emma Serres who scored all four goals and accounted for nine of Arrowhead's 10 points in the game.
Three more numbers jumped out to Northern Edge coach Kevin Sandstrom - 3, 5 and 12 - as a short-handed Edge team simply wore down as the game progressed.
"I think when you look at three games in five days, all three games with 12 skaters, maybe we overestimated our own ability here as far as how long we could last and how much we could put out there," he said. "It definitely showed tonight. We were tired. We were gassed. We were hurt. It's not a good recipe to play that many games in that short of time with that (few) players. It definitely showed here tonight."
Lauren Kefalinos put the Edge (2-7-1, 1-0-0-1 Great Northern) ahead on a short-handed goal midway through the first, but Walmer tied it with 24.5 seconds remaining in the period.
Kremer gave Arrowhead the lead at the 7:22 mark of the second. Walmer and Kremer then both scored 14 seconds apart midway through the third to effectively end the Northern Edge's chances.
"There were three players we needed to look out for and all three made us pay tonight," Sandstrom said of Arrowhead's top line.
The Warhawks (3-7-0, 1-0-1 Eastern Shores) controlled much of the play with a sustained forecheck that kept the Edge pinned in the defensive zone much of the night. Arrowhead outshot Rhinelander/Antigo 40-12 for the contest as Edge goalie Alicia Turunen had another busy night, recording 36 saves.
An already thin Edge team was plagued by six penalties during the contest but, ironically, played some of its best hockey of the evening while down a skater.
"Not only did we score but we killed off all six of their power plays and we did a very good job of keeping them on their end during the power play," Sandstrom said.
That was evident on the Edge's lone goal of the night as senior captain Payton Bunnell won a puck in the corner and centered it to Kefalinos who scored her fourth goal of the season.
"Lauren Kefalinos played a heck of a game tonight, all over the ice," Sandstrom noted. "We've talked about the kind of player that she could be and this week she's taken a big stride to become that player. We hope it continues to be that way."
The Edge were once again without Kourtney Carrico, Gracie Lenzner, Nevaeh Forster and Danielle Doughty - all of whom missed the game due to injuries.
A scary incident occurred at the end of the contest as Arrowhead's Sam Oxley and Rhinelander/Antigo's Jade Forster collided in open ice just as the final buzzer sounded. Oxley fell, hit the ice and was injured on the play. She was treated by trainers and EMTs for a possible head/neck injury before being transported to nearby Ascension St. Mary's Hospital for further evaluation. An update on Oxley's status was not immediately available.
"Prayers out to that girl that she's going to be fine," Sandstrom said. "You never want to see that. It was just an accidental play, trying to make a move at the blue line, trying to play it in a certain position. Jade was there and there was a collision. It happens. It's part of the sport. You never want to see a player down like that."
The Edge returns to action Thursday at Northland Pines. The teams will first makeup a shootout that was not conducted following a 2-2 tie Dec. 4 before playing their second Great Northern Conference contest of the season.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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