Box Score ADRIAN, Mich. – The Adrian College woman's hockey team beat the University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets, 4-1, Saturday afternoon in a Northern Collegiate Hockey Association game between two nationally-ranked top-10 teams.
Adrian goaltender Brittany Zeches turned aside 42 shots for the second time in as many days to help the Bulldogs sweep the weekend series with the NCAA Division III No. 8-ranked Yellowjacket squad (8-6 overall, 5-5 NCHA).
The NCAA Division III No. 9 Bulldogs improved their record to 14-3 overall and 9-3 in the NCHA with a pair of weekend wins.
Adrian was led offensively by Kelsey Kusch and Devyn Fitzhenry with two points each. Kusch currently leads all Division III scorers with 25 points, while Fitzhenry is the national leader in rookie scoring with 18 points.
With less than two minutes to play in the opening period, UW-Superior's goaltender Shanley Peters stopped Kristin Maton's high shot. The rebound fell onto the stick of Sarah Connelly on the left side of the goal crease and she buried her 10th goal of the season to stake the Bulldogs to 1-0 lead. Lauren Turner was also credited with an assist on the play.
There was plenty of feistiness between the two teams from the previous night's game- a 4-3 OT Adrian win, and that mushroomed in the second period.
Adrian gave UW-Superior four second-period power plays- including two 5-on-3 advantages, but Zeches was stellar and the Yellowjackets couldn't find the equalizer.
Late in the second period, UW-Superior found themselves in penalty trouble. With less than four minutes to go, the Bulldogs went on a 5-on-3 power play and called a timeout to discuss strategy.
On the ensuing faceoff, the Bulldogs won the draw and worked the puck to Alix Vallee at the left point. Her slapshot found the top right corner of the net and put Adrian up 2-0. Kusch and Fitzhenry assisted on Vallee's sixth goal of the year and 15th point- which leads all blueliners nationally.
Kusch and Fitzhenry connected again on a give-and-go just over two minutes into the third period. Fitzhenry's one-timer from inside the faceoff circle over-powered the Yellowjacket netminder and gave the Bulldogs some breathing room at 3-0.
Adrian would increase their lead to 4-0, when Danielle Smith would net her 11th of the year midway through the final period. Smith took a pass from Hannah McGowan from the right side and quickly redirected the puck into the net off the Yellowjacket goaltender.
Zeches, who leads the nation in shutouts with seven, lost her bid for another with less than three minutes left in the contest. The Yellowjackets lone goal was scored when Kerry Mayhew's centering attempt from behind the Adrian net, hit the back of Zeches' leg and trickled over the goal line.
UW-Superior outshot Adrian 43-24. Zeches would face 88 shots over the weekend and be a huge factor in both wins.
