Still kinks in Espar Women's team, ties against Sandwich Territories
Olaf Skovgaard
It was difficult for most to place an expectation for the women's Espar hockey team. There were too many variables in place for there to be a popular opinion for the squad before tonight's game, and, again, nobody really knew what to expect. But tonight's game showed they could hold their own, at least to a team ranked 35-seeds lower. The Sandwich Territories Cavaliers were looking to build off their 0-1 win against unranked Maramark, but facing an unranked team right before a top-5 team would prove to be difficult to pull off two straight wins. Technically speaking, the Espar women's team would count as unranked, so it's surprising and relieving to see them pull off at least a tie in their first game.
The first period didn't give much hope for the Espars. Philip O'Keefe gave the Cavaliers a 1-0 lead forty-one seconds in the period on the power play. Annelie Jespersen got caught on high-sticking against Sandwichian Bevis Foster twelve seconds in. O'Keefe's first backhand attempt was stopped by Espar goaltender Hanna Abels, but he got the rebound and scored on the second attempt.
Sandwichian defenceman Grant Timothyson got called for tripping Lina Knudsen thirty-one seconds later. The Espars couldn't convert, in fact they almost gave up a shorthanded goal if not for some great goaltending by Abels.
Espar Signy Steensen tied the game 1-1 with 5:23 remaining in the second period on a slap shot from the slot that went past Sandwichian goaltender Harland Becket. The rebound of a shot by forward Tanja Østergaard came to Steensen, who had an open shooting lane.
Timothy Merckx gave the Cavaliers a 2-1 lead at 14:24 in the third on a slap shot from the right faceoff circle. The puck trickled out to the faceoff circle and Merckx shot it through traffic.
Espar Majken Kaspersen tied the game 2-2 with 42 seconds left in the third period on an Erick Armistead hooking minor. Kaspersen got the puck at the point, moved around Sandwichian forward Zechariah Payne and took a wrist shot that went past Becket on the far side.
Espar forward Ylva Frank left the game with a sprained ankle in the second period after getting charged by Cavalier Arrats Montgomery and did not return.
Katrine Carstensen and the Espar ladies will try to close off their group stage matches tomorrow with a W against winless Britonisea (remember them?), and Devonta will try to get their first win against the Sandwichians. In other group E games, Britonisea lost to Maramark 0-1, I suppose somebody had to win. Abanhfleft, who is leading the group in points, defeated Devonta, 3-1.