Pride Cruise Past Beauts Thanks to a McKenna Brand Hat Trick

By Michael Lindenbaum from TXHThockey.com

After falling short to the Boston Pride the night before, the Buffalo Beauts were looking to get themselves back into the win column today at Warrior Ice Arena.

McKenna Brand of the Boston Pride struck first by jamming the puck past Beauts rookie goaltender Mariah Fuijimagari to make it 1-0 within the first two minutes of the game. Following the goal, the Pride killed a penalty and recently signed forward Emily Fluke drew a power play for Boston. On the power play, Kaleigh Fratkin set up Brand for her second of the game. The Beauts were quick to respond, with Brooke Stacey potting her second goal of the weekend series only to have Brand respond with her hat trick goal. The Pride added a fourth goal at the end of the period when Fluke tipped a point shot from Jenna Rheault to score her first goal as a member of the Pride. 

In the second period, the Pride continued their relentless attack when Alyssa Wohlfeiler drove to the net and put the puck top shelf to give her team a 5-1 lead. Beauts head coach Pete Perram put goaltender Kelsey Neumann between the pipes after Wohlfeiler's goal, but it wouldn't be enough to turn the tide. The Pride scored a little under eight minutes later when Fluke tipped another goal into the Beauts net to make it 6-1. After the Beauts killed a Boston power play, the Pride struck again at even strength when Carlee Toews buried her first of the game and third of the weekend series to give Boston a six-goal lead. 

The third period began with a lot of special teams play before Pride captain Jillian Dempsey broke through Buffalo's defnese to beat Neumann and make it an 8-1 game. After the goal, there was some exciting four-on-four hockey but Neumann prevented the Pride from adding to their lead. At the end of the game Brand made a bid for a fourth goal, but the final score would be 8-1 in the home team's favor.

Next up for Boston is a much-anticipated matchup against the Minnesota Whitecaps next weekend. You can buy tickets to next weekend's games at Warrior Ice Arena at NWHL.zone/tickets.

Photo Credit: Michelle Jay