Riveters Racing Up The Standings As Fujimuto Gets Comfortable

(Photo Credit: NWHL)

The New York Riveters’ slow start to the season is becoming a thing of the past. The Riveters won their second game in a row, defeating the Boston Pride 3-2, in front of 1,500 fans and being televised by the NESN.

Brooke Ammerman and Madison Packer started the scoring with goals in the first period. After the halfway point of the first, Boston’s superstar, Hilary Knight, cut the New York Riveters lead in half with a power play goal. Just 27 seconds later, Meghan Fardemann gave the Riveters the 3-1 lead. Early in the second period Amanda Pelkey scored for the Pride, but sadly it would be their last goal of the night.

The big story of the New York Riveters is goaltender Nana Fujimuto. Stopping 41 out of 43 shots last week, her performance has only improved since week one. Playing for Team Japan for most of her career the goaltender is adjusting to life as a New Yorker. Nana is a highly accomplished female athlete, she participated in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and the 2015 IIHF Women’s World Championship.  Nana’s family travels to the majority of her games giving her the comfort of home.

In her personal blog with the NWHL website, Nana talks about her New York firsts. From her first Halloween to her first ever cheeseburger. For Nana, playing in the NWHL is more than just playing the game she loves, she wants to prove that women are just as good as men on the ice but also to promote the sport in her home country. Safe to say the more acclimated Nana is to America the stronger she is between the pipes.

This Sunday, November 29, the Riveters return home to face the Buffalo Beauts at 7pm at Aviator Sports and events Center.