Selected photos from the Australian Womens Ice Hockey League game between the Adelaide Rush and the Sydney Sirens played at the Ice Arena, Adelaide, South Australia on 5/01/2025.  The Australian Womens Under 18 Championship in Katowice, Poland would take some players out of this game from both sides, including Elana Holub, Amber Bedell and development players Anika Wegund and Anika Mojzisek from the Rush.  Missing from the weekend’s games, leaving a big hole in defence, (along with Elana Holub) was import Maya Tupper.  Joining the lineup was Madeline Langevin.  In goals for the Rush would be Emma Moonen with Rebecca Kempe as alternate goaltender.  The Sirens had made a goaltender change after the 1-6 loss the night before, with Nayoka Wellard now in goals.  The Rush were looking at adding to the points haul form the night before while the Sirens were looking for some much needed points to advance up the ladder.

The Rush found themselves in plenty of penalty trouble giving the Sirens opportunity to score early (Tiffany Venning for tripping at 18:47, Jamie Lunn for roughing at 13:02, and Kirsty Venus for body checking at 12:50).  However, the Rush’s penalty kill unit and Moonen’s goaltending were up to the task and thwarted off all attempts.  The Sirens then had Cleo Mayer head to the bench at 7:41 for roughing and Aspen Cooper slotted one home (assist from Sierra Meroniuk).  Rush’s Jordan Kulbida then added another soon after at 5:32 (assist from Meroniuk and Tash Farrier).  Venning would get another penalty at 3:47 (this time for high-sticking) leaving the Rush short-handed.  No matter, as Meroniuk scored, unassisted, at 3:13 to give the Rush a commanding 3-0 lead.  However, the Sirens struck back, through Julia Pochini on the powerplay at 2:24 (assists Kelsie Lang and Endillion Kenyon) to peg one back.  Shots on goal for the period were Rush 12, Sirens 9.

The break gave the Sirens a chance to regroup and try something different.  It worked and they found themselves only behind by a goal at 15:03 when Stephanie Newmark scored from a Katherine McOnie assist to send Moonen’s water bottle flying.  With Rush’s Kulbida in the penalty box for interference the Sirens levelled the score at 12:22 with Kelsie Lang scoring from a Pochini assist.  However, the Sirens surge came to a halt a minute later.  Some scruffy play in front of goaltender Wellard saw Rush’s Kelly Harris tip one in (assists from Torie Cybulski and Lunn).  The Rush restored the advantage a minute later as they found their mojo again and put up many shots on Sirens goaltender Wellard.  Aspen Cooper scored on a powerplay (Siren’s Adriana Herink cross-checking at 10:56) with assists coming from Kulbida and Meroniuk.  A body-checking penalty to Kulbida at 5:46 gave the Sirens a chance to strike back, but they were unable to score past Rush goaltender Moonen.  Shots on goal for the period were Rush 12 to an economical Sirens 4 shots.

Rush’s Kulbida was back in the penalty box a minute into the period for roughing, but the Rush’s penalty unit saw off the penalty and retained their 2-goal lead.  A minute later Sirens were in penalty trouble as Herink was done for bodychecking.  Tash Farrier found a loose puck in close to give the Rush some breathing room with a 3-goal lead.  Assists came from Lunn and Cooper.  Penalties to Rush’s Lunn (cross-checking at 9:20), Rush’s Cooper (tripping at 3:46) and Sirens Lang (charging at 1:24) did not alter the 6-3 scoreline.  Shots on goal for the period had been dead even at 5 apiece, but for the game saw the Rush on 29 shots to Sirens 18.  The win saw the Rush go to the top of the table, but the Perth Inferno had 2 games in hand and were only a point behind the Rush.

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