Petford is now tied for the team-lead with nine goals on the season. (Photo Credit Mary Gettens).

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (January 20, 2024) – The Stonehill College women's ice hockey team secured its two-game series sweep over Saint Michael's College Saturday afternoon. The Skyhawks move to 13-13 overall and 13-7 against NEWHA opponents, while the Purple Knights fall to 0-26 overall and 0-20 in conference play.

Highlights

• Sophomore Sydney Russell led the Skyhawks with three points off a goal and two assists, while sophomore Alexis Petford added two points of her own.
• Sophomore Bailey Feeney and freshman Makenna Slocum scored their respective third and fifth goals of the season.
• Sophomore duo Sarah Taylar and Brianna Walkom as well as freshman Peyton Wise also dished out assists for Stonehill.
• Sophomore goaltender Eve Stone picked up her seventh win of the season between the pipes after stopping 20 of her 21 shots faced.
• Junior Grace Canterbury scored the lone goal for Saint Michael's off an assist from junior Angelina Ruiz shorthanded.
• Sophomore Annika Lavender and first-year Abbey Gyurko split time in net for the Purple Knights where they tallied 51 saves.

How it Happened

• Stonehill dominated offensive possession throughout the opening 20 minutes of action, outshooting the Purple Knights 24-8 in the first and finding the back of the net twice to take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. 
• Russell started the scoring five minutes into the contest after skating through defenders and scoring her third of the season on the backhand.
• Sacca doubled the Skyhawks lead just three minutes later, after receiving a slot pass from Petford behind the net and sending a one-time shot past Lavender in goal.
• Stonehill continued its offensive force throughout the middle period, extending its lead to 5-0 by the end of the second. 
• An own goal awarded to Slocum just over five minutes into the second made it 3-0 before Petford netted her third-weekend goal to give the Skyhawks a four-goal lead.
• Feeney tacked one more on the board at 12:49 after retrieving a loose puck in the offensive zone and going top shelf on the breakaway. 
• SMC cracked the scoresheet 2:30 into the third and final frame of regulation when Canterbury scored her sixth goal of the season shorthanded. 
• After the early special teams' goal in the third, Stone and the Skyhawks defense would hold tough, keeping the Purple Knights off the board throughout the remainder of the conference matchup to secure the 5-1 victory and two-game sweep.

Noteworthy

Stone secured her seventh win of the season in goal. (Photo Credit Mary Gettens).

• Stonehill surpassed its previous season-high in shots, registering 56 shots on goal against the Purple Knights.
• The Skyhawks also won the faceoff battle 36-24 over SMC. Sophomore Kathryn Karo won a team-high 13 draws

Up Next

Stonehill (13-13-0, 13-7-0 NEWHA) returns to action next weekend, hosting Sacred Heart University in a two-game weekend series. Puck drop of Friday's series opener between the Skyhawks and Pioneers is set for 5 p.m.

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