MANCHESTER, N.H. – Goaltender Amy Zappen (Huntington Beach, Calif.) made 15 saves this evening to become the program's all-time leader in saves as the Saint Anselm College women's ice hockey program notched a 2-0 victory over the Spartans of Castleton State College Friday evening at the Thomas F. Sullivan Arena. With the victory, the Hawks improve to 18-6-0 overall while improving to 12-5-0 within the ECAC Women's East. The Spartans drop to 9-13-1 overall on the season while their conference record stands at 8-8-1.
The victory tonight marks the sixth win in a row for Saint Anselm and Zappen's fourth shutout in five games. Entering this evening's contest, Zappen needed nine saves to eclipse the previous team record of 1,226 saves set by netminder Andrea Berlin during the 2007 season. Tonight's 15 save performance places her first all-time in team history, turning aside 1,233-of-1,355 shots on net across her four-year career.
Zappen has only allowed two goals dating back to Saturday, Jan. 28 against Nichols and still possesses a home shutout streak of 304:32 minutes. As a team, the Hawks have not allowed a goal at home across a span of 364:32 minutes, as Zappen yielded to fellow goaltender Janice Michaud (Westwood, Mass.) on Saturday, Jan. 7 and posted a shutout of her own. Tonight's shutout was also the 16th of Zappen's career.
Forward Courtney Winters (Swampscott, Mass.) scored two goals this evening for the Hawks, providing the only offense needed to buttress Zappen's performance in the Hawks goal. Winters' first goal of the game was scored at 11:26 of the second period, placing Saint Anselm out in front by a 1-0 margin. From the left wing corner, Herron fired a shot on goal that was turned aside by Spartans goaltender Paula Stephens. The ensuing rebound spilled out to a crashing Winters, who flipped the puck over the sprawling goaltender near the right post for the score.
Winters' 18th goal of the season and her second of the contest came at 5:05 of the third period, netting the second goal of the game for the Hawks. From the right wing point, defenseman Sami Tatu (Waterford, Mich.) fired a shot on net that was knocked down at the top of the crease by forward Rosemarie Giarrusso (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.). The puck kicked out to Winters, positioned near the right post for the score.
Stephens (4-4-1) drew her fourth loss of the season, allowing two goals on 29 shots on net. Zappen (15-6-0) collects her 15th victory of the season, halting all 15 shots on goal for her sixth-straight winning decision.
Saint Anselm was 1-for-3 on the power play. Castleton was 0-for-4 with the extra skater.
NOTABLES: Saint Anselm is now 13-1-0 all-time against Castleton in program history...Hawks goaltender Amy Zappen recorded her fourth shutout in five games this evening…Zappen's 15 save performance tonight eclipsed former Saint Anselm goaltender Andrea Berlin for the all-time program saves record - Zappen has made 1,233 saves in her four-year tenure with the team…Zappen has only allowed two goals dating back to Saturday, Jan. 28 against Nichols and still possesses a home shutout streak of 304:32 minutes…As a team, the Hawks have not allowed a goal at home across a span of 364:32 minutes…Forward Rosemarie Giarrusso has recorded at least one point in 16 of her last 17 games, scoring 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points (12-12=24) during that span…Saint Anselm defenseman Sami Tatu and Molly Corl (Georgetown, Mass.) have tied the program record for games played this evening, having skated in their 105th career contests…Maggie Dwyer, a four-year member of the team from 2005 to 2008, was the lone Hawks player to skate in 105 games.
Saint Anselm returns to action Saturday, Feb. 18 as they host the Pilgrims of New England College in a 3:00 p.m. contest at Thomas F. Sullivan Arena to conclude the regular season. The Hawks eight graduating senior student-athletes will be honored in a pre-game ceremony, commencing promptly at 2:50 p.m. Catch all of the action by following the Hawks on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/STAHawks) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/STAHawks).