January 16, 2019 at 1:25 p.m.
Lakeland routs Northern Edge 6-0
Lakeland routs Northern Edge 6-0
Kate Vizanko scored three times in the first period and Lakeland/Tomahawk routed the Northern Edge 6-0 in a Great Northern Conference contest at the Langlade County Multi-Purpose Building.
The Thunderbirds built a 4-0 lead following one period of hockey and never looked back. After a scoreless second, Lakeland tacked on two more in the third to send the game into running time. As it has a number of times this season, a slow start plagued the Northern Edge Monday night.
"Slow start and I was really disappointed because last night we had a really good practice where we attacked the puck," said coach Tom Roeser, whose Northern Edge team has been outscored 19-4 in the first period this season. "Tonight we weren't attacking. Especially in the first that showed."
Lakeland had the better of play much of the night, outshooting the Edge 50-17. Not only was the majority of the game spent in the Northern Edge zone, much of that time was spent with one or two Lakeland players setting up camp right in front of Edge goalie Alicia Turunen.
The traffic in front of the net played a direct result in Lakeland's second goal as Ally Pairolero sent a shot past Turunen, who was screened from the puck by a Lakeland player.
"We've got defensemen that aren't moving (players away from the crease)," Roeser said. "The thing is we've got some bigger, stronger defensemen and they're just letting people stand in front. We're not moving them around. Alicia's a little upset about it and, frankly, I am too. They've got to make mental changes. We let them push us around. That's not good."
Lakeland struck first on a Vizanko goal 7:33 into the first period. Pairolero's goal made it 2-0 at the 10:29 mark. Vizanko added goals at 14:56 and 16:44 to complete her hat trick and give Lakeland a 4-0 lead after one period.
After a scoreless second period, Callie Johnson added a goal at the 3:25 mark of the third period and Ashlee Albee scored at the 10:12 mark to send the game into running time.
Statistically speaking, the Northern Edge's best offensive period was the first, when it put eight shots on goal. The Edge's best scoring chances game later in the contest. Madi Losch hit the goalpost during the second period. Bailey Novy was open on the back post in the third period, but was unable to get a redirection on a centering pass.
Turunen made 44 saves in defeat for the Edge (2-7-0, 2-3-0-0 Great Northern). Anna Maulson stopped all 17 shots she faced in a shutout for the T-Birds.
It was the Northern Edge's first game since Dec. 29, when it lost to the MSO (Stoughton co-op) Icebergs 4-3 on a last-second goal to close out the Hodagland tournament. Rhinelander/Antigo's scheduled GNC game against Northland Pines in Antigo was postponed last Monday due to snow and rescheduled for tonight at the Langlade County Multi-Purpose Building.
"We've been on the ice quite a bit practicing, but I'm sure the layoff didn't help us," Roeser said.
As for tonight's contest. Roeser said the Edge can expect more of the same from the conference-leading Eagles unless they step up their play in the defensive zone.
"We've got to come out, or else Pines is going to do the same thing. They play a similar game. They're strong on the puck. We need to learn to protect the puck better, play lower and be stronger on our feet," he said.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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