BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Saint Anselm College women's ice hockey team overcame an early two-goal deficit to claim a 5-3 win over Stonehill College in New England Women's Hockey Alliance play on Friday.

With the win, the Hawks improve to 12-13-2 on the season and 11-4-2 in league contests while the Skyhawks drop to 12-13-1 and 9-8-0 in NEWHA games. The squads close their home-and-home series on Saturday, Jan. 21 from Sullivan Arena with the opening puck drop slated for 3 p.m.

Junior Claire Weber (Marshfield, Mass.) and freshman Brooklyn Pancoast (Helena, Mont.) netted one goal and added one assist each in the contest. Graduate student Kelly Golini (Tewksbury, Mass.) matched Weber and Pancoast with two points, both coming from assists.

The Skyhawks opened the scoring at 14:47 of the first period as Lily Geist one-timed home a pass from Bailey Feeney in the slot, beating Hawks netminder Allie Kelley (East Berne, N.Y.) on the right side of the goal.

Stonehill doubled its lead just 1:30 later as Gracie Sacca sent a wrist shot into the upper right of the goal in a two-on-one to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.

The Hawks got on the scoreboard with a power play goal at 18:22 of the opening period. Sophomore Gracee Donovan (Orchard Park, N.Y.) cleaned up a loose puck in front of the goal to push the score to 2-1 in favor of the Skyhawks through the first 20 minutes of action.

Pancoast netted her sixth goal of the season at 7:36 of the second period, which tied the score at two. Weber forced a turnover at the Skyhawks blue line and sent a cross-crease pass to Pancoast for the goal.

Sophomore Tyra Turner (Andover, Minn.) gave Saint Anselm a 3-2 lead with a power play goal at 18:48 of the second period. Golini sent a pass into the slot for a crashing Turner who redirected the play into the left side of the goal.

The Weber and Pancoast connection would strike again at 9:29 of the third period as Pancoast forced a neutral zone turnover and slid a pass to Weber who snapped home a shot attempt to extend the lead to two at 4-2.

Sophomore Audrey Jackson (Shoreview, Minn.) cashed in on an empty-net goal, marking a fifth-consecutive goal in the contest for the Hawks which pushed the score to 5-2. However, Brianna Walkom send the Hawks scoring run at 18:43 but time would run out with Saint Anselm grabbing a 5-3 win on the road.

The Skyhawks held a 38-23 advantage in shots on goal in the contest. However, Kelley turned aside 35 shots on target compared to her counterpart Hanna Zukow who stopped 18 shots.

Saint Anselm netted two power play goals in four chances while Stonehill was scoreless in its five chances.