HENNIKER, N.H. – Senior Sabrina Iannetti (Lynn, Mass.) and freshman Kaitlin Spillane (Franklin, Mass.) each tallied a pair of goals and senior goaltender Lindsey Brown (Mounds View, Minn.) picked up her fourth shutout of the season as the Saint Anselm women's hockey team picked up a 7-0 win over New England College Friday night at Lee Clement Ice Arena in Henniker.
The win improves Saint Anselm to 13-4-2 overall on the year and bumps the Hawks to 9-1-2 in ECAC East play. The Pilgrims, meanwhile, fall to 1-18-1 and 1-10-1 in league action.
The Hawks put the game away early, scoring three first-period goals, as Iannetti tallied the game-opening score at the 5:32 mark on an assist from senior Tiffany Herron (Clinton Township, Mich.). Spillane scored her first goal of the afternoon at the 9:49 mark on an unassisted breakaway tally and Iannetti stuffed home the Hawks' third goal a minute and a half later to surge out to a commanding 3-0 lead. Sophomores Victoria Shea (Middleton, Mass.) and Alison Butler (Danvers, Mass.) picked up assists on Iannetti's fifth goal of the year.
Saint Anselm maintained full control of the matchup, as junior Alex Kazmer (Crystal Lake, Ill.) opened the second period with a quick score off assists from sophomores Alison Quinn (Canton, Mass.) and Meaghan Spurling (Byfield, Mass.). Spillane's second score of the game came off assists from Herron and junior Sarah Geisinger (Willoughby, Ohio) at the 14:49 mark of the second, and freshman Jackie Guy (Saint Louis, Mo.) rung one up just 26 seconds later of the same assisting duo.
Lastly, sophomore Martha Findley (Duxbury, Mass.) got into the scoring act midway through the third period, taking a Kazmer pass to the left post and beating Pilgrim goaltender Lauren Hopps stick-side to put the Hawks up a touchdown.
Brown picked up another shutout win for the Hawks, her fourth of the season, and tallied 11 saves while improving to 10-0-1 between the pipes. NEC's Hopps picked up 34 saves in the loss.
The Hawks, who possessed the puck for the vast majority of the game, outshot New England College 41-11.
Saint Anselm also pushed its unbeaten streak to seven straight games, accruing a 6-0-1 record since a series-opening loss at Saint Scholastica back on Jan. 9. Over that seven-game span, the Hawks have outscored opponents 31-5.
In the ECAC standings, the Hawks are still chasing league-leading Norwich, which also picked up a win Friday afternoon. Saint Anselm has four games remaining against conference opponents and will look to continue its strong play into the season's final weekends—however the Hawks will need a hiccup or two from the Cadets to claim an outright crown.
Saint Anselm will return to Sullivan Arena for another ECAC Women's East matchup Saturday afternoon, hosting the University of New England at 3 p.m.
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