NORTHEASTERN UPENDS MISSISSAUGA, 3-1
Cassie Sperry scores twice for Huskies

Cassie Sperry scored two goals for Northeastern

BOSTON, Mass. - The Northeastern women's ice hockey team began its season with a 3-1 exhibition win over the Mississauga Jr. Chiefs of the Provincial Women's Hockey League on Saturday at Matthews Arena. Sophomore Cassie Sperry notched two goals in the victory.

Northeastern got on the board in the first period when Sperry beat Mississauga goalkeeper Cassandra McNichol and found the back of the net with help from newcomer Kristi Kehoe and senior captain Nikki Petrich. Senior goaltender Sarah Belliveau made five saves in the period against the Chiefs.

In the second period, both teams got tallies from their respective captains. At 12:29 Northeastern captain Petrich launched a shot past McNichol to put the Huskies up 2-0. Petrich was assisted by Kehoe and Brenna Frost. Meanwhile, Chiefs' captain Jessica Zerafa notched a goal a minute later thanks to an assist from Laura McIntosh to make it 2-1.

Less than a minute into the third period, Sperry recorded her second goal of the game off an assist from Kehoe and to put the score at 3-1 in favor of the Huskies. Kehoe registered an assist on every goal scored by Northeastern in the contest and has made her presence known early on.

Mississauga's goaltender Cassandra McNichol managed 39 saves in the game, including a spectacular, diving stop glove-side to rob NU's Chelsey Jones in the second period.

NU’s Belliveau totaled eight stops on the day before freshman Leah Sulyma was put in net in the second period. Sulyma stopped three shots.

To kick off the regular season, the Huskies will travel to Minnesota on Oct. 5 to face the Golden Gophers at 7 p.m. at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, Minn.