An early Sunday morning start didn't deter the Grand Canyon University Women's Ice Hockey team from their continued theme. As was the case in last Thursday evening's 2-2 tie, the Lopes battled with the No. 11 Midland University Warriors to the end, but this time fell, 2-1.
"The girls have really been putting in a lot of effort and time, and it shows on the ice," Lopes' Head Coach Natalie Rossi said. "I don't think at the beginning of the season, we would have been able to play that team to the score that we did."
Scoring-wise, the game held up just like last Thursday. Robin Hatcher of Midland scored first halfway into the opening period when she chased down her initial wraparound attempt and cleaned up the loose puck in the crease. The Warriors recorded 11 shots to GCU's six in the beginning frame, but Lopes' goaltender Haylee Gannaway turned away the other 10, while her defense in front cleared away any other rebound opportunities.
Once more like Thursday, GCU followed through with the tying goal in the second period. Kylie Kramer's crisp pass through neutral ice found Courtney Morgan streaking down the middle between two defenders. Morgan then slipped a low shot between the pads of Midland goaltender Isabel Olsen, bringing the GCU bench to its feet. But again like Thursday, Midland struck back minutes later when Savannah Wright popped home a loose puck from eight feet out for what ultimately turned into the game-winner.
GCU earned a chance with five seconds remaining in regulation and an extra attacker, but Kramer's shot from the blue line was deflected short of the goal before the buzzer sounded.
"The second 10 minutes of the second period we started getting a little anxious, running around a little more than we usually do," Rossi said. "But between the second and third, we told them, 'Calm down, trust in your system,' and they did when they came out in the third period."
In practice, Rossi has continued to emphasize the short game with quicker passes up the ice. The Lopes got back to that system Rossi spoke of in order to keep Midland from any second chances while creating their own in the offensive zone.
"Those small passes that we're putting together look really good," Rossi said. "It's great to see what we're working in practice transfer over into games like that."
GCU Women's Ice Hockey is now on Thanksgiving break before returning to the ice in two weeks. The Lopes close out 2017 December 8 and 9 with home games at AZ Ice Peoria versus Arizona State University.
