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SAINT PAUL, Minn. — In an exciting season opener for both teams, Alex Carpenter made a significant impact by netting two goals, including the game-winner just 19 seconds into overtime, leading the New York Sirens to a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Frost on Sunday night. This match also marked the debut of the first overall draft pick, Sarah Fillier, who contributed with two assists for New York.
The game kicked off with Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle making history by scoring the quickest goal in PWHL history, finding the net just 21 seconds into the contest. The Frost extended their lead to 2-0 by the end of the first period with another goal from Kendall Coyne Schofield.
New York responded in the second period with a power-play goal by Jessie Eldridge, which was followed closely by Gabby Rosenthal scoring, tying the game less than three minutes later. As the game progressed into the third period, the Sirens took their first lead when Carpenter scored 4:35 into the frame, set up by Fillier after her impressive breakaway.
Despite New York’s lead, Dominique Petrie managed to equalize the score for Minnesota with just 4:14 remaining in regulation, ensuring an intense finish to the game.
In terms of takeaways from the match, the Sirens, who finished last season with a league-low of 26 points, displayed promising chemistry between Carpenter and Fillier during the game. On the other hand, the Frost, who are the reigning champions, kept most of their core roster intact and also saw rookie Petrie scoring, making the loss in the opener less troubling for them.
A crucial moment of the game came seconds into the overtime when Fillier showcased her skills, utilizing her speed and sharp passing to assist Carpenter for the game-winning shot.
Statistically, Minnesota outperformed New York in shots with a total of 38 compared to the Sirens’ 20, yet New York’s goaltender, Corinne Schroeder, stood out with an impressive 35 saves.
Looking ahead, the Sirens will next face off against Montreal, while the Frost are set to travel to Boston to take on the Fleet, both games scheduled for Wednesday.
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