Carey opened the scoring after lighting the lamp on her fourth goal of the season. (Photo Credit Mary Gettens).

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (January 27, 2024) – For the second consecutive game, the Stonehill College women's ice hockey team and conference rival Sacred Heart University battled to a 2-2 tie during the series finale on Saturday. The Skyhawks move to 13-13-2 overall and 13-7-2 in conference play, while the Pioneers improve to 11-16-2 overall and 10-9-2 against NEWHA opponents.

Highlights

• Sophomore Alexis Petford scored her team-leading 12th goal of the season, while sophomore Maeve Carey netted her fourth of the year.  
• First-year defender Pusle Dyring-Andersen and sophomore Gracie Sacca registered assists for the Skyhawks.
• Sophomore goaltender Eve Stone had a solid afternoon in net, posting 29 saves in between the pipes for Stonehill.
• First-year Grayson Limke and sophomore Julianna Koman lit the lamp on their second and fourth goals of the season, respectively.
• Sophomore Jillian Petruno posted 40 saves in goal for Sacred Heart, marking her fifth game of the season with 40 or more saves.

How it Happened

• Despite Stonehill outshooting Sacred Heart 13-8 throughout the opening 20 minutes of play between the two conference rivals, neither side would find the back of the net.  
• In a second period filled with five total penalties, the Skyhawks' and Pioneers' defenses would stifle both sets of power play units and keep the game scoreless heading into the second intermission. 
• Stonehill finally broke the scoreless tie 3:44 into the third period as Carey threaded the needle and found the back of the net off the blue line after receiving a pass from her defensive partner Dyring-Andersen. 
• However, just 30 seconds after the game's opening score, Sacred Heart would respond as Limke stuffed a loose puck past the outstretched Stone in goal to tie the game up at one apiece. 
• Back-to-back penalties midway through the third by the Skyhawks gave the Pioneers an excellent scoring opportunity. With a five-on-three on-ice advantage, Sacred Heart would take its first lead after Koman lit the lamp for her second goal of the season. 
• Continuing the back-and-forth trading of goals in the third period, less than two minutes after the Pioneers jumped out to a one-goal advantage, Petford would respond for the Skyhawks, skating through the defense and netting her third goal of the weekend to tie the game up at 2-2. 
• In the waning seconds of the third, still tied at two aside, Stonehill would draw an interference penalty at the 19:46 mark, meaning the Skyhawks would enter overtime with 1:44 left on a power play chance.
• However, despite taking a skater advantage into the extra frame, Stonehill would be unable to break through, eventually playing to a second consecutive 2-2 draw against the Pioneers. 

Noteworthy

• Stonehill compiled 42 shots on goal throughout the conference matchup, marking the fourth consecutive game where the Skyhawks have reached the 40 shots on goal mark.
• Stonehill won the faceoff battle 52-84 as sophomore Brianna Walkom and junior Josie Mendeszoon paved the way with a combined 35 faceoff wins.
• Petford extended her goal-scoring streak to four games with her lamp lighter against the Pioneers. Over the four-game stretch, the sophomore forward has six goals, including three on the power play.

Up Next

Stonehill (13-13-2, 13-7-2 NEWHA) returns to action next weekend, visiting NEWHA standings leader Long Island University for a two-game weekend set. Puck drop of Friday's series opener between the Skyhawks and Sharks is set for 3 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.