The Buffalo Beauts wrapped up the NWHL pre-season Sunday night as they faced off against the Brock Badgers’ women’s hockey team on Sunday, October 2nd in St. Catherines, Ontario and emerged with a decisive 8-1 victory in their second and final preseason contest.
The eight goals came from six different Beauts, with Corinne Buie and Kourtney Kunichika each tallying two goals and an assist. Kunichika opened the scoring with the first of her two goals coming late in the opening frame, sending the Beauts into the intermission ahead 1-0.
Second period action saw an offensive explosion from the Beauts, with goals from Kunichika, Emily Janiga, Buie (2), and Shiann Darkangelo. Although the Badgers answered back in the waning minutes of the second period, the Beauts were a force to be reckoned with, amassing 29 shots in the first two periods alone.
Despite heading into the third period with a commanding lead, there was no let-up from Buffalo; adding goals were defensemen Lisa Chesson and Paige Harrington, Harrington already with an assist on the night on the lone first period goal.
All three Beauts goaltenders (Brianne McLaughlin, Amanda Leveille, and Kelsey Neumann) got a period in net. However, none of them were truly tested, as Brock’s highest shot total came in the third period when Brock University reached five shots against Neumann. In the first, McLaughlin only faced one.
Following the regulation 60 minutes, the Beauts and Badgers returned to the ice to play two practice overtime periods, followed by a shootout as a final warm-up for both teams in extra time situations before their respective seasons are underway.
FULL GAME STATS
The NWHL regular season begins in only a few short days this Friday, October 7th at the Buffalo HarborCenter.
