Laker Hockey News

Game 6&7 - 10/23-10/24/2009

The Robert Morris University Eagles had played in the national championship game in each of the last five years. Grand Valley State University women’s hockey team has only existed for a little over two. What looked like a mismatch on paper turned out to be a heck of a weekend of hockey.

The Lakers dropped two hard-fought one-goal games this weekend to women’s hockey’s version of a dynasty team, 3-2 on Friday night and 2-1 Saturday afternoon.

GVSU head coach Cory Whitaker said the Lakers matched RMU in every facet of the game on both days of the weekend, but pointed to one thing that tilted the score in favor of the Eagles. Experience.

The Lakers were tied in the late stages of the third period on Friday and held a 1-0 lead after a first period goal by sophomore Lindsay Coursen on Saturday, but were unable to pull out the win on either occasion.

“We feel like we were in good position both games, and they fell out from right underneath us,” said Coach Whitaker. “To RMU’s credit, whether they were up or down in the game, they were always able to maintain solid pressure, and that just comes from experience and every single one of their girls being in high-pressure situations in the past.”

Even though the weekend ended in a sweep, sophomore goaltender Kristie Kowalski said the women on the team were disappointed by the outcome, but not upset by their performance.

“It’s definitely hard to be upset after games like that,” said Kowalski, who turned away 56 of the 61 shots she faced this weekend. “They were both really good games. They’re the second ranked team in the nation, so going in they didn’t expect much of us, and we gave them a really good game. So we’re proud of ourselves, but we still have a lot to work on.”

Senior forward Ashley Rumsey said the team played with RMU on both occasions, but took a few too many missteps along the way.

“We overcommitted a bit much sometimes, and since they were a super fast team, every mistake we made, they jumped on it,” said Rumsey, who tallied both Laker goals Friday night. “We need to stick to our system. We need to read and react to what they’re doing and adjust to how they react to our plays so we can capitalize when they make a mistake.”

Coach Whitaker noted that a young team like the Lakers can grow from the close games they lost this weekend.

“What we learn from these kind of games prepares us for the more important games at the end of the year,” he said. “The experiences of the pulling the goalie, the 6 on 5, all these things may not have worked right now, but the more times we play in that kind of situation prepares us for nationals, CCWHA playoffs, and the big games to get into nationals.”

The Lakers will take on Northern Michigan University for a pair of games this weekend at Walker Ice and Fitness Center, with games on Saturday at 9 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.

-Greg Monahan