In St. Paul, Minnesota, Michela Cava shone brightly, netting two goals as Minnesota claimed the top spot with a commanding 5-1 victory over New York on a sunny Saturday afternoon. This win marked New York’s sixth consecutive defeat.
The Professional Women’s Hockey League celebrated “Goalie Appreciation Day” on this particular Saturday. Minnesota took this opportunity to honor goalies with special activities during the breaks. Despite the celebrations, Minnesota’s team didn’t hold back, launching 40 shots at New York’s goalie, Corinne Schroeder. This aggressive play led to a record-breaking moment for the club, achieving the highest number of goals scored in a single match during their debut season.
However, the highlight wasn’t just the tally of five goals. Minnesota showcased their prowess early on, with two goals scored within just 63 seconds of each other in the first period. Demonstrating their relentless spirit, they replicated this feat in the third period, this time with two goals only 16 seconds apart.
The trio of Cava, Kendall Coyne Schofield, and Taylor Heise were pivotal, contributing three goals and two assists. Their synergy and skill were evident throughout the game.
Cava was instrumental in initiating each scoring spree. Her first goal came at 8:32 in the opening period, followed swiftly by Grace Zumwinke’s goal, bringing the score to 2-0. Claire Butorac added to the tally in the second period, marking her first goal of the season and extending the lead to 3-0. Although New York managed to score late in the second period, the momentum shifted back to Minnesota in the third period, thanks to Cava’s precise shot, quickly followed by Schofield’s goal.
Schofield and Zumwinkle each added a goal and an assist to their names, with Heise assisting twice, showcasing the depth of talent within the team.
Goalie Maddie Rooney was a wall for Minnesota, stopping 20 out of 21 shots. Her performance was a testament to her skill, securing her third win in the last four starts and her fifth in eight appearances this season.
With this victory, Minnesota now leads with 33 points, edging ahead of Toronto and Montreal. The team looks forward to maintaining this momentum, especially in their upcoming games against Montreal.
On the other hand, New York is struggling to find its form, with its last victory dating back to February 21st against Montreal. They currently sit at the bottom of the standings with 17 points, trailing behind Ottawa and Boston.
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