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Metro Lynx push past USM

By Chris Anderson, Metro Lynx coach, 12/08/19, 1:30PM CST

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Madison team blanks Wildcats 4-0

The Metro Lynx came out slow to start and USM tried to take advantage.

For the first 5-7 minutes USM controlled the play and had good offensive pressure but just couldn’t get many shots through. Lynx goaltender Camryn Mckersie stopped all three shots due in large part by the great plays by the defense.

Coach McKersie said “Our defense was the backbone starting that period. They were outstanding at not letting many shots get through. Especially on the multiple times we were down two players tonight, and the ones that did get through, Camryn turned aside.” 

The Metro Lynx finally started to hit their stride half way through the first and generated more scoring chances. However, USM netminder Sammi Stommel was up to the task.

Finally, Lynx defenseman Jenna Culp got the scoring going. She picked up a puck along the wall, quickly turned and fired a shot that found its way through traffic and into the back of the net to put them up 1-0.

The second period saw the Lynx come out hard and start to control play. However, again, they were having difficulty getting pucks by the USM goalie. It wasn’t until about halfway through the second period that Lynx defenseman Sam Olander scored her first high school goal. She received a pass at the point and fired off a quick wrist shot that went in on the short side with assist going to Ally Jacobsen and Kaya Byce.

The second period ended with the Lynx up 2-0.

The third period saw the Lynx pick up five penalties, including two situations where they were down 5-on3. However, the Lynx would generate some offense off the penalty kill.

Olander picked up a loose puck, fired a pass to Rachel Mirwald streaking up the ice. She drove hard wide and found Sydney Raaths going to the net for a shorthanded chip in goal.

But soon after, the Lynx were in penalty trouble again. With back to back 5-on-3 situations, the USM Wildcats put on some serious pressure. They fired several shots at McKersie who would not let any by. As one shot came in and she made the save, it went back door to a wide open USM player. McKersie dove head first getting the paddle of her stock on it to deny the opportunity.

WiPH Game Summaries

USM kept up the pressure and McKersie was forced to make several pad saves in a row to secure her shut out.

Coach McKersie had this to say about his penalty kill players: ”They were outstanding tonight. There were so many players that stepped up to help kill it off. And when USM did get chances, Camryn Mckersie was outstanding… especially in the third when we were only up a few goals. Those saves are difference makers. IF we give up 1 or 2 goals during that stretch, it’s a whole new game.”

The third period scoring was capped off on a beautiful play where Raaths moved the puck to Byce and then over to Lauren Johnson for a one-timer that went top shelf.

“What a goal!” McKersie said. “It was really the only way we were going to score against a good USM team. They play really tough defensive hockey in their zone. We needed a near perfect play to score and that was it.”