Petford now leads the NEWHA with seven assists on the season. (Photo Credit Bob Blanchard).

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (October 28, 2023) – The Stonehill College women's ice hockey team earned its first weekend sweep of the season after defeating conference opponent Assumption University, 3-1, on Saturday.

Highlights

• Sophomore forwards Gracie Sacca and Maddison Achtyl each netted their respective third goals of the season for Stonehill.
• Senior Paige Whaley scored her fifth goal of the season for the Skyhawks on a redirected shot in the second period.  
• Sophomore Alexis Petford dished out her conference-leading seventh assist of the season on Sacca's third period goal.
• Sophomore duo of Sarah Taylar and Brianna Walkom recorded their first assists of the year, while sophomore forward Lily Geist tallied her second of the season.
• Junior goaltender Hanna Zukow stopped 24 shots in between the pipes for Stonehill to earn their third straight win and fourth win overall in goal for the Skyhawks.  
• First-year student Kayla McGaffigan scored the lone goal for Assumption. The goal marked the first of McGaffigan's young collegiate career.
• First-year netminder Jadyn Weiser registered 21 saves in her second career start in goal for the Greyhounds.

How it Happened

• After a scoreless opening frame, Stonehill would get the scoring started at the 1:19 mark of the second period, as Achtyl snuck a shot past the goalkeeper and into the back of the net for the game's opening goal. 

  Whaley scored the game-winning goal on a redirect shot from Taylar in the third period. (Photo Credit Bob Blanchard).

• However, Assumption would respond less than five minutes later when McGaffigan netted her first career goal unassisted. 
• Coming out of the second intermission knotted at one aside, both teams looked to gain an edge on the scoreboard. 
• With 6:37 left in regulation, McGaffigan went on the break looking to score her second goal of the contest. However, Petford would race back and poke the puck away before she could get a shot off from point-blank range, keeping the game tied at 1-1. 
• Less than a minute later, Taylar sent a wrister in from the blue line to find the stick of Whaley, who redirected the shot into the back of the net, giving Stonehill a 2-1 advantage.
• Sacca capped off the scoring at the 19:42 mark of the third to seal the 3-1 victory for the Skyhawks on a late empty net goal off a faceoff win from Whaley and a breakout pass from Petford.

Noteworthy

• Petford and Sacca are each riding seven and five game point scoring streak's, respectively, after Saturday's 3-1 win over Assumption.
• Whaley has now scored four goals over her last three games as she leads the team with five goals on the season.  
• The Skyhawks dominated the faceoff battle, going 36-12 against the Greyhounds, as Whaley herself went 19-4 inside the circle.
• With the win, Stonehill moves into a first-place tie in the New England Women's Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) standings with LIU at eight points on the season.

Up Next

Stonehill (4-6-0, 4-2-0 NEWHA) returns to action next weekend for a two-game series against Saint Michael's College. Puck drop between the Skyhawks and Purple Knights on Friday is set for 5 P.M., at the Bridgewater Ice Arena.

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.