Boston Blades lose to Inferno

The final score of the Boston Blades 4-1 loss against the Calgary Inferno on Sunday may be a little deceptive. In their final game against the league's top team, the Blades were able to compete, despite the lopsided shot total, playing arguably their best game against Calgary this year.

"I think we're really starting to compete. We really came out there fighting hard," said Blades Assistant Captain Kristina Brown after the game.

Boston, who have had difficulties seceding a lot of goals early to Calgary in the past, held the Inferno to just two goals going into the third period. They did this despite being down their Captain, Tara Watchorn, who missed both games over the weekend with an upper body injury.

"Not having [Watchorn] for both games really hampers us, because we rely on her for so many minutes. She gives us dimension," said Head Coach Brian McCloskey.

One of the most surprising parts about Sunday's game was how well the team played on the power play. Throughout the year, offensive pressure has been hard to come by for the team, both at full strength and on the power play, but the Blades were able to consistently control the puck in Calgary's zone.

"Coach has been working really hard with that all week, and I think it's really starting to click," said Brown.

Both the St. Germains, Murphy and the Brown, Kickham, Shea lines accomplished this, but it was the later that would account for Boston's only goal over the weekend.

While on a power play, Megan Shea, who filled in on the team's top line for the unavailable Megan Myers, hit a wide open Erin Kickham at Calgary's blue line. Kickham went glove side on Inferno goaltender Kathy Desjardins, who got a piece of it, but not enough to make the save.

Kickham, who is the Blades assist leader with six, finally got the goal she was looking for all year.

"It's always exciting to be able to go out there and help the team out," she said.

Unfortunately, the Inferno came right back, scoring less than thirty seconds later. Another goal would come with just 20 seconds left, finalizing the Inferno's victory.

Not lost in the Blades effort was Goaltender Genevieve Lacasse, who saved 63 of 67 faced, and 123 of 131 on the weekend. Though she's faced a ridiculous number of shots this year, she's remained the consistent backbone that this young team needs.

The Blades now look towards this upcoming weekend's set against the Toronto Fury, who they haven't faced since the opening weekend. Though the Furies have also struggled this year, the Blades are more focused inward.

"We have to come out hard no matter who we're playing," said Brown. "I don't really look at who's across the ice, I just know I have to go out there and compete every day."