February 2, 2018 at 1:08 p.m.
Edge falls at home as Lakeland clinches GNC
Edge falls at home as Lakeland clinches GNC
Lakeland/Tomahawk scored twice in the third period, including a goal that caromed in off defender Gracie Lenzner's skate, as it defeated the Northern Edge 3-0 and locked up the conference title with two games remaining.
"I don't have much negative to say about this game other than we were pretty darn unlucky," Northern Edge coach Kevin Sandstrom said. "We would have needed a couple of bounces to come out on top. We didn't get any and, actually, we had a couple of bounces work against us."
Kailey Godfrey scored twice for the T-Birds (10-10-0, 7-1-0-0 Great Northern), who clinched their first GNC title. Rhinelander/Antigo (7-14-1, 3-3-0-1 Great Northern) had to run the table beginning with Thursday night's game to wrest away the crown. Instead, the Edge's wait for its first championship will have to wait at least one more year.
Godfrey scored her first with 1:06 remaining in the first period off an assist from Maggie Wohlleber shortly after a neutral zone faceoff to cap off a period that saw the T-Birds outshoot the Edge 10-6.
"Early on in the season, it would have killed us," Sandstrom said of the T-Birds' last-minute goal. "Not only didn't it kill us, but I think if it weren't for a quick whistle there in the last minute, we might have been able to tie it up there close to an end."
The Edge played Lakeland scoreless in the second, but gave up a goal only 22 seconds into the third as Godfrey and Wohlleber hooked up again and took advantage of a misplayed puck.
"Unfortunately, the puck's bouncing around. Had a chance to get it out off (Kourtney Carrico's) stick, fumbled it around and, sure enough, one pass later it's in the back of our net," Sandstrom said. "Their transition game is fantastic and, sure enough they did that 22 seconds in."
The Edge was unable to capitalize on a 4-on-3 power play a short time after Godfrey's second goal and Caitlin Hartigan was credited with the clinching goal at the 6:47 mark as she fired a shot from the point that deflected off Lenzner's skate and in.
"Everybody knows that's just a freak play," Sandstrom said. "Luckily that's not a play in a 1-1 game, or a 2-2 game, but that made (the deficit) three and pretty much put it out of reach at that point in the game.
"They got a few more bounces than we did. They made a few more nice plays. We made a few more mistakes and that's the story of a 3-0 game."
Lakeland outshot the Edge 24-15 in the contest. Alicia Turunen made 21 saves in defeat while freshman Anna Maulson turned in a shutout for Lakeland.
The same two teams will meet again Tuesday at the Rhinelander Ice Arena.
Antigo Daily Journal sports editor Laura Harvey contributed to this report.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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