MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Saint Anselm College women's ice hockey team is headed to its fifth New England Women's Hockey Alliance Championship game as the Hawks downed Stonehill College by a 4-2 score in Wednesday's semifinal round game.

The second-seeded Hawks improve to 18-16-4 on the season and will meet the top-seed in Long Island University on Saturday, Mar. 4 for the NEWHA title and the automatic qualifier to the NCAA National Collegiate Women's Ice Hockey Championship, starting at 7 p.m. from the Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow, N.Y. The third-seeded Skyhawks, who were competing in their inaugural season, see their year come to a close at 19-16-2.

Senior Gabrielle Huson (Edina, Minn.), juniors Natalie Tulchinsky (Clifton Park, N.Y.) and Claire Weber (Marshfield, Mass.), and sophomore Audrey Jackson (Shoreview, Minn.) netted one goal apiece for Saint Anselm. Freshman Brooklyn Pancoast (Helena, Mont.) led the team with two points, both coming from assists.

With an assist on the second Saint Anselm goal of the contest, graduate student Kelly Golini (Tewksbury, Mass.) recorded her 44th point of the season and now holds the program record for points in a single season. Golini also moved into second for assists in a single season with 26.

The Hawks struck first as Tulchinsky one-timed home a feed in the slot from Pancoast at 15:59 of the first period.

Just 1:08 later, the Skyhawks tied the score at one on a goal by Maddison Achtyl. Achtyl redirected a shot attempt from Gracie Sacca, beating senior netminder Allie Kelley (East Berne, N.Y.).

The Hawks would regain the lead just 2:41 into the second period as Jackson sent a wrist shot into the left side of the goal on the power play, giving the hosts a 2-1 lead.

Again, the Skyhawks had a quick reply as Alexis Petford buried a loose puck in front of the goal to knot the score at two at 4:28 of the middle frame. 

Saint Anselm wasted little time taking the lead in the third period as Weber collected a cross-ice pass from Pancoast and sent a wrist shot into the upper right of the goal at 1:24, giving the Hawks a 3-2 lead.

With time winding down and the Skyhawks goal empty, Huson sent a long shot from the Hawks defensive zone into the net, securing the 4-2 win.

Kelley turned aside 31 of 33 shots on goal for the Hawks. Hanna Zukow stopped 18 of 21 shots on goal that she faced for the Skyhawks.

Saint Anselm was one-for-one on the power play while Stonehill was scoreless in its one power play chance.