By Michael Heilman

The Minnesota Whitecaps visited the Northtown Center for day two against the Buffalo Beauts Sunday afternoon. The Whitecaps defeated the Buffalo Beauts yesterday 5-3, and the Beauts were looking for redemption.

Both teams were aggressive from the start of the first period. Neither team could score early in the first period until Minnesota broke through halfway in the period when Minnesota’s Allie Thunstrom scored with Jonna Curtis assisting Thunstrom’s goal at ten minutes and fifty seconds to give Minnesota a 1-0 lead. Thunstrom’s lone goal sent Minnesota to the locker room with a 1-0 lead at the end of the first period.

Fifty-three seconds into the second period, Buffalo’s Megan Delay headed to the penalty box for body checking. One minute and twenty-eight seconds later, Minnesota would extend the lead 2-0 on a power-play goal by Lisa Martinson with Allie Thunstrom assisting Martinson’s goal. Both teams continued to play aggressive as Minnesota headed to the locker room with a 2-0 lead at the end of the second period.

The third period was full of intense action as Minnesota would add another goal five minutes and thirty seconds in the third period as Jonna Curtis scored with Allie Thunstrom getting her second assist of the game to extend Minnesota’s lead 3-0.

Three minutes later, down 3-0, Buffalo began chipping away at Minnesota’s lead as Taylor Accursi scored with both Corinne Buie, and Iveta Klimasova assisting Accursi’s goal to make it a 3-1 Minnesota lead. Less than ten seconds later, Buffalo would go on the power play as Minnesota’s Lauren Barnes headed to the penalty box for tripping. Thirteen seconds later, Buffalo would make it a one-goal game as Erin Gehen, with assists from Iveta Klimasova, and Sara Bustad cut Minnesota’s lead to one 3-2.

The Beauts would complete the comeback four minutes and twenty-one seconds later in the third period as Taylor Accursi would get her second goal of the game with Mariah Fujimagari assisting Accursi’s goal to even the game 3-3.

Buffalo would go on a five on three power play as Minnesota’s Meghan Lorence (interference) and Kalli Funk (hooking) both headed to the penalty box. Buffalo would go on to take their first lead of the game as Taylor Accursi completed the hat trick with Corinne Buie, and Lenka Curmova assisting Accursi’s goal to give Buffalo a 4-3 lead.

Minnesota would make one last attempt to tie the game pulling goalie Amanda Leveille for an extra attacker as time ran out, and the Buffalo Beauts came back to defeat the Minnesota Whitecaps 4-3.

Minnesota won the shots on goal total with forty-two to Buffalo’s twenty-nine. Minnesota goalie Amanda Leveille made twenty-five of twenty-nine saves allowing four goals while Buffalo goalie Mariah Fujimagari made thirty-nine of forty-two saves allowing three goals.

The three stars of the game were Buffalo forward Corinne Buie with two assists, Buffalo goalie Mariah Fujimagari with thirty-nine saves, and Buffalo forward Taylor Accursi with three goals.

Buffalo will now travel to the Danbury Ice Arena to take on the Connecticut Whale next Saturday at 4:30 pm. Minnesota will not play again until December 14th as they return home to the TRIA Rink against the Metropolitan Riveters.