Buffs bounce back with important sweep over Utah
- Paxton Haines
- 9 hours ago
- 3 min read
The Colorado Buffaloes (13-8-2-1) swept the Utah Utes (15-8-0-1) on Friday and Saturday, snapping their four-game losing streak. The two wins finished a split of the season series with the conference-leading Utes. CU won 4-1 on Friday and 2-1 on Saturday.
Following two devastating losses in Salt Lake City, the Buffaloes came home with urgency on Friday for Hockey Fights Cancer Night. Just over two minutes into the game, forward Ella Hairston poked the puck into the zone for herself, then snapped a shot far-side to the top corner to open the scoring. It was the first goal from a bottom-six forward in six games.
Thirteen minutes later, forward Mia Fiscelli assisted Natalie Ewald in a highlight reel-worthy play to make it 2-0. Fiscelli was knocked down at the blue line by two Utes, but brought both down to the ice with her. She slid to the puck and, from behind the goal line, found a crashing Ewald with a no-look pass for a one-time finish. The “Dynamic Duo” shared an elated embrace in celebration of their sixth team-up of the year.
With about five minutes left in the second period, an excellent forecheck from forward Aleksa Caton sent the puck to fellow forward Amelia Sowers, who teed up a wrister for Hairston that made it 3-0. It marked Hairston’s second multi-goal game of the season, and ended Sowers’ seven-game point drought.
Utah scored before the second intermission, but CU got the three-goal lead back on the power play when Fiscelli traversed to the right circle and senta shot into the top corner for her 20th goal of the year, a career high.
The emphatic victory was completed by the save of the season from Buffs goaltender Shira Wein. On the power play, Utes forward Ashley Paterson was robbed of an open-net goal by a diving Wein, who lunged the shaft of her stick out to deny Paterson. Wein finished the night with 21 saves.
It was domination from the Buffaloes in need of a conference win. CU revived its offense, winning the shot-on-goal battle 25-21. Defensively, the Buffs made Utah uncomfortable, forcing turnovers and denying long possessions.
“I was really happy with our effort,” Coach David Tenzer said after the game. “I thought 5-on-5, we completely outplayed them. The only chances they got were some mistakes that we made and some chances on power plays.”
Game two, a celebration of youth girls’ hockey, began with sluggish play from both teams. From an 11 a.m. MT puck drop, both squads were slow and sloppy, ending the first forty minutes scoreless.
Finally, less than four minutes into period three, Fiscelli was given time and space on the power play and made Utah pay with a shot that whizzed by the defense to break the ice. Fiscelli’s goal made headlines again, as it was her 33rd point of the season, tying her career high.
Five minutes later, forward Abigail Piatigorsky walked into the slot and ripped a shot bar-down to extend the lead to two; the seventh goal for the rookie.
The Buffs had to lock it down all 60 minutes to win game two. Utah forward Sonia Charman scored with 96 seconds remaining in regulation, and almost tied it 30 seconds later. Charman got free in front of the net, but Wein beared over the shot and swallowed it up to keep CU ahead.
Utah pulled its goalie for the final minute, but outstanding defense from defenders Zoe Dupuis and Sophie O’Brien secured the weekend sweep for Colorado.
It was another defensive clinic from the Buffs. Dupuis, the team captain, expressed her contentment with the team’s net-front presence. The Black and Gold denied Utah from crashing the net and getting second chances on rebounds. Wein had another stellar performance, allowing only one goal in her 24-save victory.
“What I told the girls before the game was, ‘Let’s make it miserable for them,’” Tenzer said. “‘Every time they touch the puck, let’s be in their face, and make them think about it the next time they have to play us.’”
Tenzer said he expects to see the Utes again in the playoffs.
The successful weekend for the Buffs was reassuring after a four-game losing streak full of uncharacteristic offensive woes. Colorado proved that it can beat the best in the conference. The Buffs continue to battle in the tight WWCHL, where the top four teams are all within two points of each other.
CU has two games left in the regular season against the struggling Denver Pioneers. The final home game is set for Friday at 5 p.m. MT (Sko Buffs Sports on YouTube).