MANCHESTER, N.H. – Junior
Gracee Donovan (Orchard Park, N.Y.) recorded her first collegiate hat-trick to lead the Saint Anselm College women's ice hockey team to a 5-2 home victory over Saint Michael's College on Friday evening.
UP NEXT:
- Saint Anselm will host Saint Michael's to conclude the two game series on Saturday, December 2nd at 2:00 p.m. from the Sullivan Arena.
Score: Saint Anselm 5, Saint Michael's 2
Records: Saint Anselm 9-7-1 (9-3-1 NEWHA), Saint Michael's 0-13-0 (0-11-0 NEWHA)
Location: Manchester, N.H. (Thomas F. Sullivan Arena)
Date: Friday, December 1, 2023
Attendance: 114
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The first period consisted of few scoring opportunities from either side. Saint Anselm fired off the first two shots of the game in the first 30 seconds of action, but both were stopped by Saint Michael's goaltender Annika Lavender. The Hawks also earned two power play opportunities during the opening frame, but were kept off the board on both.
- The Hawks registered eight shots on goal, while the Purple Knights recorded three in a scoreless opening 20 minutes of play.
- The action picked up during the second period, with both teams finding the back of the net. After Saint Anselm opened the period with five consecutive shot attempts, it was Saint Michael's that lit the lamp for the game's opening goal on their first power play attempt just over seven minutes into the middle stanza. Emma Kelly received a perfect pass in the slot from teammate Lauren Fisher. Kelly's wrist shot fluttered up and over the glove of the Saint Anselm goaltender to put the Purple Knights ahead, 1-0.
- The Hawks did not wait long to answer, potting the equalizer just four minutes later. Donovan put herself in a good position in front of the cage and tapped home a rebound after a shot by senior Natalie Tulchinsky (Clifton Park, N.Y.) ricocheted out off the pads of Lavender to make it a 1-1 score.
- With three minutes left in the second, the Purple Knights nearly regained the lead when Emersynn McGillis' shot clanged off the pipe.
- A strong offensive surge late in the second period allowed Saint Anselm to take a two-goal lead heading into the second intermission. With 1:18 remaining, junior Audrey Jackson (Shoreview, Minn.) took a shot from the bottom of the left circle. Lavander made the initial save, but the puck trickled through her pads. Tulchinsky slammed it into the back of the net to put the Hawks ahead, 2-1.
- Donovan scored 43 seconds later for her second goal of the period to make it a 3-1 game. After the puck was dumped in deep behind the Saint Michael's cage, freshman Hailey Tullo (Southwick, Mass.) chased after it and played a centering pass out in front to Donovan, who one-timed a shot past Lavender.
- With 10:40 left in the third period, Saint Anselm earned a 5-on-3 advantage following consecutive penalties by Saint Michael's. Just seconds after the faceoff, senior Claire Weber (Marshfield, Mass.) gave her team a three-goal lead with her fourth goal of the season. Seniors Maddy McCaffery (Weymouth, Mass.) and Savannah Popick (South Windsor, Conn.) each picked up an assist on the play.
- Two minutes later, Donovan scored her third goal of the game for her first collegiate hat-trick. The junior crashed the net and followed up on another rebound off a shot by Tulchinsky to make it 5-1, Hawks.
- The Purple Knights added a late consolation goal with three minutes left courtesy of an unassisted tally by Angelina Ruiz, but the Hawks eventually skated to their third straight win and ninth win in NEWHA play through just 13 games.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Saint Anselm held a huge advantage in shots on goal, outshooting Saint Michael's 38-18 on the evening.
- The Hawks also held a slight lead in blocked shots, 16-13, and won 33 out of 47 faceoffs.
- Both sides had a successful night on the power play with Saint Michael's going 2-3 and Saint Anselm going 2-5.
- Donovan recorded her first career multi-goal performance, while Tulchinsky and sophomore Brooklyn Schneiderhan (Helena, Mont.) both recorded multi-point nights.
- Junior goaltender Annabella Lalande (Lachute, Quebec, Canada) improved her record to 3-2-0 on the year and recorded 16 saves.
- Saint Anselm improves to an incredible 53-1-3 record all-time versus Saint Michael's.
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