MANCHESTER, N.H. – Freshman Sara Alonardo (Wilmington, Mass.) scored two goals in her first collegiate game to lead the Saint Anselm College women's hockey team to a 4-0 victory over the Pioneers of Sacred Heart University on Saturday afternoon at Thomas F. Sullivan Arena.
With the win, the Hawks jump out to a 1-0-0 record, while the Pioneers drop to 3-4-0 for the 2012-13 campaign.
Alonardo scored her first goal 2:30 into the second period when Alex Kazmer (Crystal Lake, Ill.) centered the puck into the slot, finding Michelle Conway (Medford, Mass.). Conway tapped the puck over to Alonardo, whose shot caromed off and defender and into the net behind Sacred Heart goaltender Alexius Schutt.
Alonardo struck again 11:35 into the second stanza to extend the Hawk lead to two. Once again, Conway and Kazmer picked up the helpers on the goal.
Freshman Sarah Geisinger (Willoughby, Ohio) scored her first collegiate goal at 15:24 of the second period on a power play thanks to assists from Jacqueline Bouchie (Belmont, Mass.) and Rosemarie Giarrusso (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.). Giarrusso passed the puck from the bottom of the right circle to the right point for Bouchie, who fired a slapshot that deflected off a defender in the high slot. The puck trickled to the low slot where Geisinger flicked a backhander that ricocheted in off the skate of the defender at the left post.
Saint Anselm last struck at 13:51 of the third period when Andi Foss (Elko, Minn.), at the right point, sent a slapshot towards the net and Sabrina Ianetti (Lynn, Mass.) re-directed it in at the top of the right slot.
Saint Anselm goalkeeper Lindsey Brown (Mounds View, Minn.) made 14 saves, while Schutt made 35.
The Hawks held a 39-14 advantage in shots-on-goal.
The Hawks return to action Friday, Nov. 2 at 7:40 p.m. when they travel to Nichols College. The next home game for the Hawks is Friday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. when they play host to Salve Regina at Sullivan Arena. Stay up-to-date with the latest news, including game previews and recaps, directly from the Saint Anselm College athletic department by friending us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/STAHawks) and following us on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/STAHawks).
