Badgers season ends at the hands of Waterloo
Marc MacDonald
Issue date: 2/27/07 Section: Sports
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On Feb. 23 the Badgers had one goal in mind - to beat the Warriors. It came down to the current sixth place team, Waterloo, holding a one-point edge on the seventh place Badgers.
Brock's recent method of operation has been to score early, and then hopefully hold onto the lead, which in recent games has been difficult to do.
True to form, graduating forward, Heather Goemans, opened the scoring in the first period, when she batted in a loose puck on the power play. The goal was nice, but minus the win it was not how she wanted to go out.
"It's a heartbreaker," said Goemans. "We had so much confidence that we were going to pull in the win, it just didn't come out that way."
After five years and the most games played by a Badger, the reality of not suiting up anymore hasn't hit Goemans just yet, but is well on its way.
"I think next week when we don't have practice, that's when I'll really notice it."
Down by a goal, Waterloo was not phased, making smart decisions with the puck, forfeiting shots towards the goal with Badgers in the way, in favour of dumping the puck into the corner, away from danger. This calm, cool and collected mentality of Waterloo had them hanging around all game, showing the rare spurt of urgency in their attack.
Patiently, Waterloo awaited their opportunities, and was granted a gift on a terrible giveaway by Brock defender Tika Patrie early in the second period.
With her back to centre ice, Patrie back-handed a soft puck up the middle of her own zone right onto the stick of Waterloo forward Kaitlyn MacDonald.
MacDonald walked in alone on rookie netminder Beth Clause and beat her five-hole, knotting the affair at one.
"You have to be ready at all times," said Clause. "I tried to poke check but it didn't go over so well."
Clause, in just her second game in months due to a sprained knee, gave the Badgers every chance to win, making big saves when called upon, a feat she hasn't been able complete due to her aforementioned injury.
"It's hard to sit there and watch. Obviously you want to be in there, and you think you can do it, but you have to suck it up."
The remainder of the period saw Brock generate pressure on Waterloo goalie Alexis Huber, getting every last poke at her, before and after the whistle, much to the dismay of the Waterloo players.
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