By Michael Heilman

The Minnesota Whitecaps had to come from behind to defeat the Connecticut Whale 3-2 Sunday afternoon at the Danbury Ice Arena in Danbury, CT.

After a scoreless first period, the Whitecaps went on a power play when Whale’s Elena Orlando was sent to the penalty box for body checking. The Whitecaps capitalized on the power play when Winny Brodt Brown passed the puck to Sydney Baldwin, who then shot a missile to the lower-left corner of the net to put the Whitecaps up 1-0. Winny Brodt Brown assisted in Baldwin’s goal. Late into the second period, the Whitecaps Amanda Boulier was called for tripping at the end of the second period, thus putting the Connecticut Whale on the power play when the third period started. Sydney Baldwin’s goal would be the only goal scored in the second period as the Minnesota Whitecaps headed to the locker room with a 1-0 lead.

The Whale’s would capitalize on the power play one minute and fifty-nine seconds into the third period Kayla Meneghin slid the puck to the lower-left corner of the goal net which tied the game up 1-1. Shannon Doyle assisted on Meneghin’s goal.

Connecticut would take the lead for the first time near the halfway mark of the third period as Sarah Schwenzfeier scored to put the Whale’s up 2-1. Grace Klienbach and Shannon Doyle assisted with Schwenzfeier’s goal.

Minnesota then had to create their own “Minnesota Miracle” late in the third period as Sydney Baldwin passed the puck to Stephanie Anderson, who then spun around and lifted the puck to the middle of the goal net to tie the game 2-2. Sydney Baldwin and Allie Thunstrom assisted on Anderson’s goal.

With under three minutes left in the game, the Whale’s Emma Vlasic was sent to the penalty box for tripping, thus giving the Whitecaps another power-play opportunity to win the game. The Whitecaps Jonna Curtis would get the game-winning goal as Minnesota went up 3-2 with thirty seconds left. Amanda Boulier and Meghan Lorence assisted with Curtis’s goal. The Minnesota Whitecaps came back to defeat the Connecticut Whale 3-2.

The three stars of the game were Minnesota forward Jonna Curtis, who had one goal and one assist, Minnesota defender Sydney Baldwin also had one goal and one assist and Minnesota forward Stephanie Anderson also had one goal.

Minnesota Whitecaps goalie Amanda Leveille made twenty-one saves out of twenty-three, allowing two goals while Connecticut Whale goalie Sonjia Shelly made forty-two saves out of forty-five, allowing three goals. Minnesota’s total shots were forty-five while Connecticut had twenty-three.

The Minnesota Whitecaps won’t return to the ice until November 23rd against the Buffalo Beauts at the Northtown Center in Getzville, NY. The Connecticut Whale also won’t return to the ice until November 17th when they welcome the Buffalo Beauts to the Danbury Ice Arena.