By Michael Heilman

The Buffalo Beauts and the Metropolitan Riveters clashed in the Buffalo Believes Classic from Riverworks in Buffalo, NY, in front of a sellout crowd. The Beauts came into this game on a two-game losing streak while Riveters haven’t played since December 15th.

The Riveters didn’t waste any time in the first period three minutes and twenty seconds in as Rebecca Morse put the Riveters up 1-0 with assists from Kate Leary and Kendall Cornine. The Beauts were on the power play a couple of times and could not tie the game. It was the Riveters turn to go on the power play as a body checking call was against Beauts forward Becki Bowering. The Riveters extended their lead 2-0 on a power-play fifteen minutes and forty-eight seconds on a goal by Brooke Baker with assists from Mallory Rushton and Kendall Cornine. The Riveters led 2-0 at the end of the first period.

Less than two minutes into the second period, the Riveters went on their second power play of the game on a high sticking call against Beauts forward Ashley Birdsall. The Riveters converted their second power-play goal by Madison Packer to extend the Riveters lead 3-0 with assists from Cailey Hutchison and Brooke Baker. The Riveters had a couple more chances on the power play to further their lead but didn’t convert on either power play and remained in the lead 3-0 at the end of the second period.

Down by three goals, the Beauts had a lot of work to do as the third period began. Near halfway through the third period, the Beauts cut the Riveters lead 3-1 on a goal by Taylor Accursi with an assist from Corinne Buie. Thirty-two seconds later, the Riveters got back that goal from Brooke Avery to make it a 4-1 Riveters lead. The Beauts would cut the Riveters lead to 4-2 as Taylor Accursi would get her second goal of the game with an assist from Iveta Klimasova. Two minutes later, Taylor Accursi completed the hat trick goal to make it a one-goal game 4-3 with an assist from Corinne Buie. The fans were on their feet anticipating the Beauts comeback attempts. The Beauts then tied the game 4-4 as Taylor Accursi got her fourth goal of the game, what a night for her.

The Riveters knew they had to answer back after giving up four goals. The Riveters regained the lead 5-4 seventeen minutes and twenty-three seconds with a goal by Tatiana Shatalova with assists from Nicole Arnold and Kelly Nash. Thirty-three seconds later, the Riveters extended the lead 6-4 on a goal by Madison Packer. With forty-eight seconds left in the game, the Riveters put the game away as Cailey Hutchison scored with an assist from Madison Packer to give the Metropolitan Riveters a 7-4 win over the Buffalo Beauts. The Beauts have now lost three straight games.

The Riveters had thirty-six shots on goal, and the Beauts had twenty-six. Riveters goalie Sam Walther made twenty-two of twenty-six saves allowing four goals and Beauts goalie Mariah Fujimagari made twenty-six of thirty-four saves allowing six goals. The three stars of the game were Riveters forward Brooke Baker with one goal and one assist, Riveters forward Madison Packer with two goals and an assist, and Beauts forward Taylor Accursi with four goals. These two teams will play again tomorrow at 1 pm from the Northtown Center.