The Boston Pride and the New York Riveters faced off in a heated match in Newark on Sunday. The game was filled with action and close calls that kept fans on the edge of their seats. The final score was the result of a close shoot out that ended in Boston’s favor, 3-2.
Boston’s Meghan Duggan opened up the scoring less than two minutes of the first period off a pass from teammate Jillian Dempsey. Duggan’s quick shot beat Riveters goaltender Sojung Shin and got the Pride on the board.
The Riveters received a power play opportunity a few minutes later and failed to capitalize on their opportunities, but Boston’s Alex Carpenter managed to grab a short-handed shot that got the Pride up 2-0.
However, the Riveters showed once again their inability to quit on a game. Before the period’s end, Bray Ketchum got the Riveters on the board, capitalizing on a pass from Janine Weber just off the faceoff and ended the first period 2-1.
The second period was a physical one for both teams, bringing six penalties — two power play opportunities for Boston and four for New York. Despite the power play opportunities, no one was able to capitalize.
Minutes before the second period’s end, though, the Riveters’ captain Ashley Johnston’s flew into the slot and grabbed a pass from Alexa Gruschow. Johnston’s shot beat Pride goaltender Brittany Ott and tied the game at two a piece.
Shin and Ott put on incredible performances in their respective nets, and as the third period and overtime period brought no goals for either team, the game would go to a shootout.
Even the shootout went longer than usual, as the goaltenders refused to surrender a goal. It was four rounds before a winner was decided.
Boston’s Zoe Hickel finally beat Shin, earning the two points and keeping the Pride’s perfect season alive.
The New York Riveter’s next matchup is against the Connecticut Whale on Dec. 11 on home ice. The Boston Pride’s next match is the team’s return to Newark, following the break, for a re-match with the New York Riveters on Jan. 7.
