Re: D3 NCAA Tournament
Just an amazingly intense game for the DIII title with RIT coming out on top 4-1. This was the most physical women's game I have seen and kudos to Mann and Remillard for keeping things from getting totally out of control.
The Norwich penalty kill was tested early and withstood more than 1:30 of 5x3 attack early in the 1st. RIT cashed the only powerplay goal of the game midway in the period when Moss' slapshot from the left point got through traffic and beat Fisk up on her short stickside. The goal engendered a brief span of chaos with bodies flying all over the ice. RIT had 3 players in the box to Norwich's 1 and play was largely in the RIT D zone but Chamberlain was equal to the test. She conveys an almost nonchalant calm as she sweeps the puck away and directs it to the corner. Norwich was buzzing around and outshot RIT 13-8 for the period. They evened the score at 1-1 when Guay sprang Invernizzi with a nice feed out of center; Invernizzi had a decoy to her left, took the puck down right wing to the edge of the circle and her shot was saved by Chamberlain, but Perez was trailing the play and jammed the rebound home from the top of the crease. Chamberlain made a big stop on Fortier at 19:00 and then scrambled at the stickside post to avert a put back and keep the score tied. The 2nd saw RIT putting lots of pressure on , but play continued to be very physical and all moves of the puck were contested. RIT took the lead early in the 3rd when Kunichika lugged the puck out of center and broke down right wing 2x1; she took her time, dangled and drew the D to her at the low edge of the right circle before making a perfect feed to Brown at the top of the crease; Brown tucked the puck in the net beating a moving Fisk up stickside. Minutes later Brown returned the favor, grabbing a Norwich D give away in the right corner and then slipping the puck to Kunichika who was able to come right to left across the mouth of the crease and beat Fisk with a backhand to the stickside. RIT scored the thirf goal of the 3rd when Brown again fed Kunichika out of center ice; Kunichika moved down left wing and worked into the high slot; her shot was aved by Fisk but the rebound was put back by a trailing Hills beating Fisk up stickside. Norwich had a late powerplay but chose not to pull Fisk for an extra attacker until after the penalty expired and time had run under 2 minutes. Special teams have to be the big story for this game as the RIT kill was able to deny Norwich on 7 chances and the Tigers converted 1/4 tries of their own. Chamberlain was named outstanding player of the tournament and certainly would have gotten my vote.
Another year in the books. It all started in Northfield that crazy weekend of the snow storm way back in the end of October. I drove a lot of miles, made some new friends, saw a lot of great kids play a game they love and did not "annoy" the Editor off too much (after all we did meet watching a Williams@Manhattanville game, and the final was not on her birthday this year), so hope to see you all next year!
