Sacca's overtime winner lifts Skyhawks to first win in program history to open NEWHA play
Sacca notched a goal and assist, netting the gamewinner in overtime, to lift the Skyhawks to the first win in program history (PHOTO BY Bob Blanchard) |
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (October 7, 2022) – Freshman forward Gracie Sacca scored with 1:34 to play in overtime to lift Stonehill College to its first win in program history with 4-3 triumph over Post University to open New England Women's Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) play at Bridgewater Ice Arena this evening.
Highlights
- Sacca totaled a goal and assist to lead the Stonehill offense that featured four first-time goal scorers on the night.
- Freshman Eve Stone made her first collegiate start in goal for Stonehill and finished with 13 saves in going the distance in goal.
- Freshman Hannah Saunders finished with 30 saves in goal for Post.
- Also scoring goals for Stonehill on the night were freshmen Maddison Achtyl, Hannah Squires and Alexis Petford.
- Sophomore Sheridan Terrazzano contributed a goal and assist for Post.
How it Happened
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After a scoreless first in which Stonehill dominated the ice and registered a 10-3 advantage in shots for the period, the Skyhawks committed the first penalty of the night with a minute to play in the opening frame. Post emerged from the first intermission and opened the scoring with a power play goal from Terrazzano just 31-seconds into the second period.
Stone finished with 13 saves to help the Skyhawks to the first win in program history (PHOTO BY Mary Gettens) - Neither team scored the remainder of the period and then Stonehill equalized 2:35 into the third as Achtyl potted her first career goal off a feed from Sacca.
- Post reclaimed the lead 12 minutes later as Terrazzano turned provider to sophomore Sajel Desai with 5:32 to play.
- That sparked a four-goal flurry which saw each team score twice over the next three minutes, including three goals within a 37-second span, that led to overtime.
- Squires' first career goal just 19-seconds after the goal by Desai leveled the game again, assisted by freshman Mia Kenmore, with 5:13 remaining, and then Petford pushed the Skyhawks in front with her first collegiate goal, assisted by freshmen Maeve Carey and Lily Barrett another 18-seconds later with 4:55 remaining.
- Sophomore Kiersten Browning knotted the score again, this time for Post, when her shot from the point grabbed a deflection in front and got past Stone with just 2:48 left that would send the game to overtime.
- That was where Sacca delivered the game winner with a shot to the short side on the right circle to lift Stonehill to its first win in program history in just its third game in its NEWHA debut.
Noteworthy
- Stonehill's first win in program history comes in just its third game.
- The win is the first in the head coaching career of 2014 Olympic gold medalist Tara Watchorn.
- All three Stonehill home games in its inaugural season, including the exhibition with University of Moncton, have gone to overtime (1-1-1).
- Two of Post's three goals came on the power play.
- 13 different players collected points between the two teams in the contest, including six for Stonehill.
Up Next
Stonehill (1-2-0, 1-0-0 NEWHA) and Post (1-3-0, 1-3-0 NEWHA) have a quick turnaround, before wrapping up their two game weekend series tomorrow at the Bridgewater Ice Arena at 1 p.m. The game will be an afternoon doubleheader with the Stonehill men, who will make their NCAA Division I hockey debut by hosting Long Island University at BIA at 5 p.m.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.
