A Battle on Kennedy Field: Huskies Show Heart in Tough Loss to Cushing

Today’s game on Kennedy Field was an all-out battle, and although the Huskies came up on the short end, they played with heart and determination throughout. Cushing came out strong and fast, testing our defense early. It took the Huskies about ten minutes into the first quarter to find their rhythm, but once they did, they started playing the Husky hockey we know they are capable of.

Cushing was able to get one past us with three minutes left in the first quarter. Five minutes before halftime, the Penguins struck again and then capitalized on a last-second corner to take a 3-0 lead at the break.

Despite the deficit, the Huskies did not let up. At halftime, we focused on all the positives—making strong passes, communicating effectively, and generating good offensive opportunities. We discussed how to sharpen our execution, especially by looking up before free hits and spreading out to avoid crowding.

The Huskies came out with renewed energy in the third quarter, playing some of their best hockey of the day. With 1:37 on the clock, Kennedy took advantage of a great setup from Cara and Reagan, finding the back of the net. Just 37 seconds later, JL intercepted the ball at the Penguins' 16-yard line, dribbled into the circle, and fired off a beautiful shot, cutting the lead to 3-2 heading into the fourth quarter.

Facing adversity, the Huskies dealt with a series of green and yellow cards that left them playing one or two players down at times. Even so, the team adjusted, making smart passes, dropping back when necessary, and continuing to push up the field. Though they created several more scoring chances, they couldn’t quite find the back of the net again. Cushing managed to slip in one final goal, tipping a ball past goaltender Mary-Ann, who played a phenomenal game with 13 saves and strong communication from the back.

With about five minutes left, Kelsey Baker took a stick to the head during an offensive corner, causing a brief game stoppage. While it was tough to see a teammate get hurt, the Huskies rallied, playing hard for Kelsey in the final moments. Thankfully, Kelsey is doing well and is already eager to get back on the field.

Although the game didn’t end in our favor, the Huskies played with grit and aggression and are ready to bounce back on Saturday. We are excited to fine-tune our defensive corner tactics and come out even stronger in our next matchup. As always, win or lose, but never defeated.

Thank you to everyone who reached out with concern for Kelsey—she’s a tough player, and we’re grateful the injury wasn’t as serious as it looked.

Here we go, Huskies!