Dayton Fangs Women's Ice Hockey

In a rematch of their first game, the Dayton Fangs traveled to Worthington, Ohio, to take on the Columbus Wizards. Heather Gochoel, making her first start in net, stopped 35 of 43 shots. Gochoel was stellar when handling the puck, controlling all rebounds and stifling the hungry Wizards. Merri Meadows, in her first hockey game ever, came out so strong and so impressed the coach of the other team that he named her our Offensive MVP. The Wizards have affectionately names her #4 Blue Pants. Tana Frangioni made her first start ever in a women's game. Though Frangioni has played many games in co-ed and men's leagues, this was her first opportunity to play when only women were on the ice. The team is happy to have Frangioni out on the ice with us. Not only did she play on an injured ankle, but she made a commitment to being the first defensive forward back to help the D. For Theresa Boose it was her first women's game with the Fangs. Back on D and sharing time with former goalie Marianne Graham and Defensive Game MVP Angie Hendricks, Boose was solid. Carol Galbraith also took to the ice in her first women's only game. She fought hard and provided and excellent outlet on the breakout. Krista Kercher continued her pestering ways giving everything she had on an empty tank. Julie Orenstein sought to show improvement in the game and did so with veracity. The Fangs were outshot 43-10, but the best offensive opportunity came on a third period shot by Shannon Riffle. Shannon's shot had everyone on the bench and on the ice oohing and ahhing as the shot nearly squeaked by the surprised Wizard goaltender. Words alone cannot describe the shot. You just had to be there. The game itself was longer than expected with the teams fighting for the puck for 45 stopped time minutes. The Wizards had the Fangs on their heals in the first with a quick score. But the defense tightened up and Heather Gochoel shut the door for much of the first period. The Fangs came out of it down 3-0. The second period showed a much stronger collective effort on the part of the Fangs. The period was scoreless until a Holding Penalty was taken by Defenseman Marianne Graham that lead to a quick goal by the Wizards. They followed the powerplay goal with another. The Fangs were held scoreless but managed a few opportunities on their own Powerplay in the period. The Fangs were down 6-0 at the end of 2. The third period may have been the best for the team. With scoring opportunities by many of the Fangs including the fantastic shot by Riffle and several opportunities created by Hendricks, the Fangs racked up the majority of their shots. At the other end Gochoel was outstanding. Stopping all but 2 during the period. The final score was a lying 8-0 in the Wizards favor. By the score doesn't tell the truth of the improvement the Fangs have made since they first met the Wizards in February. The cordial teams joined together for a long lunch proceeding the game. NOTES: Missing in action for this game were Captain Audrey Choh who was stricken with illness the night before the game, and Ironman Kim Lapole. Kim LaPole hadn't missed a game since the Fangs played their first game verses the Wizards. This means she played all 14 IBAH games, the first exhibition game, all three tournament games in Indy, the Red v. Gold game at the Nutter, and the three games the Fangs combined with other teams for in the Lucky Stars Tournament in March. That was 21 straight games without an absence! Choh and LaPole returning to the ice as the Fangs head to Columbus, Indiana, next weekend for a tournament facing Nashville and two Indiana Blades Teams.