Dayton Fangs Women's Ice Hockey

The Dayton Fangs traveled west for their second ever women's ice hockey tournament. The Fangs, members of the POWHA, took on the Nashville Pegasus, the Indiana Blades Black and the Indiana Blades White in a summer battle. GAME ONE Arriving early Saturday for an afternoon match against the Nashville Pegasus, the Fangs showed their nerves a bit allowing Nashville's Kellianne Burdorf to score just 42 seconds into the first game. The team settled and didn't allow another one until there were just 17 seconds remaining in the period. The Fangs, too, had their opportunities. Though the biscuit never went in the basic, the Fangs had 15 shots on net, outshooting the Pegasi in the second period 7-6. In the closest shot game in their history, the Fangs were outshot 23-15. The game ended in a 3-0 loss (all goals were scored by Burdorf) for the Fangs, but was clearly their best effort to date. They killed off all penalties. For several players it was their first tournament, for Shannon Bailey who was solid on D it was her first ever women's hockey game. It was the first tournament for Carol Galbraith and Merri Meadows. It was also Carol G.'s first time on Defense. Jill Abromowitz was also able join the Fangs for this match before she leaves for South Korea. The Penalty Kill Unit really clicked as Frangioni and Kertcher not only contributed to the defensive aspect, but also had one of the best scoring opportunities in the tournament. Kertcher and Frangioni broke through and had a 2-0 opportunity. With Kertcher carrying the puck and Frangioni lying available for a pass, the two broke in the zone, all alone. Kertcher, smelling goal, took the shot as Frangioni busted in from the left to grab the rebound. The goalie was there however and quickly covered. The opposing coaches named Tana Frangioni, who had 7 or 8 shots on net, the Offensive MVP of the game. The Fangs coaches named Theresa Boose the Defensive MVP. GAME TWO The Fangs regrouped after a quick run to Applebees for some nourishment and returned to the rink for an early evening game verses the Indiana Blades Black team. The Blades came out fast in the first period, quickly taking a 3-0 lead. The Fangs continued to scamble into the second, but after the 5th goal, the coaches called a timeout to address the issues. Miraculously, it was as if the Fangs were a completely different team. They tightened up in their own end and didn't allow a goal the rest of the game. After being outshot 32-3 in the first two periods, the Fangs stepped up narrowing the gap to just an 8-3 difference in the third. After it was all said and one the Fangs were outshot 40-6. The defense of Shannon Bailey, Patti Rupp-Hunt, Theresa Boose, Heather Gochoel, and Shannon Riffle, really stepped up allowing the forwards to get a few chances at the other end. The Choh, Frangioni and Lapole line got an interesting opportunity with minutes left in the match as a waived off icing gave them a 3-0 in the zone with the goalie out of the net playing the puck. The line rolled into the zone single file, but just as the neared the goalie and saw the fear on her face each forward went in a different direction setting up the best scoring chance of the tournament. The game ended in a 5-0 loss for the Fangs, but this was clearly an excellent game played especially after the timeout. No penalties for the Fangs in this game! The opposing coaches selected Audrey Choh as the Offensive MVP and Theresa Boose was named by the Blades as the Defensive MVP. Special Honorable Mention was given to Merri Meadows, who just last week claimed the Offensive MVP verses Columbus. GAME THREE After a night of fun, the Fangs awoke for a bright and early game, post-denny's breakfast, verses the negative of the previous game. The Indiana Blades, who just the day before had beaten the Nashville Pegasus 4-0, came out firing. Goaltender Heather Gochoel had their number though as she held off the barrage for the first five and a half minutes. The White Blades racked up 17 shots in the first period. Gochoel, playing with an injured shoulder, stopped all but 3. With Gochoel in net and Graham on the bench, Kim LaPole was named Alternate Captain for the game so that the Fangs could have a captain on more than just one line. Once again the Fangs stumbled a bit coming out of the gate, but Midway through the second they shut the door. They were outshot 29-18 in the game, but really turned up the offense outshooting the Blades 8-3 in the final period, leaving the tournament on a strong note. The game ended in a 5-0 loss, but was the official tournament game for Gochoel in net who played a game so strong that no one would have known it was just her second game ever. Her play resulted in her being named the Defensive MVP by the Opposing team. Captain Audrey Choh was picked by the Blades as the Offensive MVP. Special Honorable Mention was given by the Blades to Tana Frangioni. The Blades coach said it was hard to choose between Choh and Frangioni. NOTES: After the coaches appointed new power play and penalty kill units prior to the first game, the Fangs did not allow any Power Play Goals. Only one player, Kim LaPole in game one for unsportsmanlike conduct, took a penalty. The only other penalties were bench minors. They also did not allow any third period goals, showing what they are capable of when settled down. The Fangs were outscored 13-0, but showed a vast improvement over their last tournament where they were outscored 25-0. The Fangs were outshot 92-37. In the March tournament, the Fangs gave up 145 shots over three games. This tournament also had 13 min periods, meaning the Fangs play a total of 9 more game minutes. Game 1's third period was the first time the Fangs ever tied a period. Over the course of this tournament the Fangs tied 3 periods. Post-tournament awards were given to Theresa Boose and Kim LaPole. LaPole received a plaque for her 21 game ironman streak. Boose was awarded the Tournament MVP by the coaches. Both Boose and Choh received 2 Game MVP awards. Gochoel is the first Fangs goaltender to win the award. All the Fangs were given participant medals by the tournament hosts. The tournament was greatly appreciated by the Fangs players. Not only was the geography convienant, the competition good, the organization well done, but there was also everyone's favorite, FREE STUFF. Ann Welch, in her first games back after accepting a new job, was a tank, knocking down any player who dared get in her way. Said Welch after the game, "I didn't hit anyone on purpose." The refs didn't call her for any penalties, so whatever she was doing muct have been right. Sari Hardyal, who recently moved to Columbus to attend OSU, may have played in her last games with the Fangs. She has been with the team since a few months before the first game. We wish her well and thank her for her time, support and efforts. The Fangs had a full coaching staff over the weekend. Head Coach Gary Welch provided, pre and post game instructions and encouragement to the players. Assistants Ralph and Dennis also helped vocally as well as administratively. All three coaches really supported the team. The coaches were forced to make changes on the fly as the injury bug began to creep up. This was Coach Dennis's first tournament with the Fangs. The warm up game scheduled by Coach Gary verses the Columbus Wizards proved to be vital in the transformation of the Fangs. The Fangs had an opportunity to get some jitters from not being on the ice in a while out and get a few players their first game before heading into the tournament. The Fangs next scheduled opponent is a rematch with the Indiana Blades on Saturday, August 26, 2006, at the Kettering Recreation Complex at 6:00.