MANCHESTER, N.H. – Senior Courtney Winters (Swampscott, Mass.) and freshman Alexandra Starzyk (Enfield, Conn.) each netted power-play goals and junior Sabrina Iannetti (Lynn, Mass.) dished a pair of assists to lead the Saint Anselm women's ice hockey team to a 3-2 victory against 10th-ranked Manhattanville College on Saturday afternoon at Thomas F. Sullivan Arena.
The Hawks, who received points from seven different skaters, improve to 5-1-0 on the season, including a perfect 3-0-0 in ECAC East play, while the Valiants sink to 1-2-1, 0-2-0 ECAC East.
Saint Anselm jumped on the board with 1:13 left in the first period as junior Franny Nicholson (St. Paul, Minn.) initiated the play when she knocked the puck loose from a Manhattanville player on the left side of the boards. The puck was picked up by Iannetti and she skated up the ice, passing the puck to the right circle for freshman Alison Butler (Danvers, Mass.), who sent a slapshot through traffic and into the back of the net.
The two teams skated into the break with the Hawks holding the 1-0 advantage on the scoreboard, as well as an 11-9 edge in shots.
The Valiants wasted no time striking in the second period, however, as Alla Traun took a shot from the right circle that was deflected in at the top of the crease just 40 seconds into the period.
Saint Anselm doubled up its lead just over four minutes later as it took advantage of a power-play opportunity at 4:50. Freshman Alison Quinn (Canton, Mass.) skated around the back of the net and sent a pass up ice to senior Jacqueline Bouchie (Belmont, Mass.). Bouchie drove from just inside the blue line and released a shot that was tipped in by Winters in the low slot.
The Hawks made it a 3-1 game at 7:27 of the middle period when Iannetti dished the puck to Starzyk, who skated through the crease and shot the puck into the right side of the net past Manhattanville goalie Kirsten Shaughnessy.
Shots in the second period were 13-6 in favor of the Hawks, while both goals from Saint Anselm came on the power play.
The Valiants did trim their deficit to one with a goal midway through the final period when Taryn Harris dished a pass to Michelle Megiolaro, who skated away from the pack on a fast break. Megiolaro crossed the puck trough the slot to Sydney Asseltine and she one-timed the pass past Saint Anselm senior netminder Lindsey Brown (Mounds View, Minn.).
Brown stopped 33 shots, while 31 saves, while Shaughnessy made 27 saves.
Manhattanville held a 33-30 advantage in shots, including 18-6 in the final stanza. Saint Anselm was 2-for-4 on the power play, while the Valiants came up empty on four extra-man opportunities.
The Hawks return to action Friday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. when they hit the road to take on Salve Regina University. The next home game for the Hawks is Monday, Nov. 25 at p.m. when they play host to the University of New England 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 liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter @STAHawks.
