By Michael Heilman

The Minnesota Whitecaps hosted the Metropolitan Riveters for game two Sunday afternoon at Tria Rink. The Riveters defeated the Whitecaps 3-2 yesterday in a shootout. It was the first game for Whitecaps since November 24th and were looking to shrug off any rust they had left.

The Whitecaps controlled the game from the start of the first period. They were aggressive on both sides of the ice. The Whitecaps scored five minutes and twenty-seven seconds in the first period by Stephanie Anderson with an assist from Nina Rodgers to put the Whitecaps up 1-0. The Whitecaps kept their foot on the gas as they were able to extend their lead 2-0 sixteen minutes and forty-seven seconds by Nicole Schammel with assists from Lisa Martinson and Amanda Boulier. The Whitecaps led 2-0 at the end of the first period.

The Whitecaps continued to push the Riveters around. They added another goal one minute and four seconds into the second period by Audra Richards with an assist from Nicole Schammel to extend the Whitecaps lead 3-0. Two minutes and forty seconds later, Audra Richards would score her second goal of the game to add to the Whitecaps lead 4-0 with an assist from Allie Thunstrom. During the game, both teams were having issues with their footing, and players were slipping all over the ice, some losing the puck in the process. The Whitecaps led 4-0 at the end of the second period.

As the third period got underway, the Whitecaps were looking to put an exclamation point in the game. The Whitecaps would add another goal six minutes and twenty-three seconds in the third period by Sydney Baldwin with an assist from Audra Richards to add to the Whitecaps lead 5-0.

The Riveters would end the scoreless drought with a goal by Madison Packer with an assist from Kate Leary to cut the Whitecaps lead 5-1. With under two minutes to play in the game, the Riveters would add another goal by Kate Leary with and assist from Tatiana Shatalova cut the Whitecaps lead 5-2. The Riveters had momentum on their side, but it was too little, too late, and the Minnesota Whitecaps defeated the Metropolitan Riveters 5-2.

The Whitecaps edged the Riveters in the shots on goal total with thirty-nine to the Riveters thirty. The Whitecaps were zero for three on the power play white the Riveters went zero for two. Whitecaps goalie Amanda Leveille made twenty-eight of thirty saves allowing two goals while Riveters goalie Sam Walther made thirty-four of thirty-nine saves allowing five goals.

The three stars of the game were Riveters forward Kate Leary with one goal and one assist, Whitecaps forward Nicole Schammel with a goal, and Whitecaps forward Audra Richards with two goals and one assist.

The Whitecaps will now head to the Danbury Ice Arena for a weekend series against the Connecticut Whale Saturday, December 21st at 5 pm and Sunday, December 22nd, at 1:30 pm. The next game for the Riveters will be on December 28th at the Buffalo Beauts.