EAST MEADOW, N.Y. – The second-seeded Saint Anselm College women's ice hockey team fell by a 2-0 score in the New England Women's Hockey Alliance Championship game to top-seeded Long Island University on Saturday.

The Hawks will see their season come to a close at 18-17-4 overall, marking the most wins in a single season since the 2018-19 season. The Sharks improve to 20-13-3 on the season and have earned the first ever automatic qualifier to the NCAA National Collegiate Women's Ice Hockey Championship from the NEWHA.

Saint Anselm has now qualified for the NEWHA Championship game five times, the only program in the league to reach that feat. The Hawks also have reached at least 16 wins in each of the last 12 seasons of competition.

Graduate student Kelly Golini (Tewkbury, Mass.) and junior Natalie Tulchinsky (Clifton Park, N.Y.) are just the second duo in program history to register 40 or more points in a single season, last being accomplished in the 2012-13 season. Golini set a program record in Wednesday's semifinal win over Stonehill for points in a single season at 44.

Senior Gabrielle Huson (Edina, Minn.) and junior Claire Weber (Marshfield, Mass.) were named to the NEWHA All-Tournament Team upon conclusion of the game on Saturday.

The Sharks netted the game's opening goal at 17:10 of the first period as Sarah Rourke cashed in on a rebound chance, following a shot attempt from Carrigan Umpherville.

Senior goaltender Allie Kelley (East Berne, N.Y.) stopped 13-of-14 Sharks shots on goal in the opening 20 minutes of play.

LIU extended its lead to two with a four-on-four goal at 12:24 of the third period. Umpherville made strong move around a Saint Anselm defender at the Hawks blue line and then capped off the play with a backhand shot, beating Kelley on the left side of the goal.

The Sharks put 26 shots on goal in the contest, compared to 18 for the Hawks. LIU won 27-of-49 faceoffs in the tilt but Golini led all student-athletes with 12 wins from the dots. Neither side converted with the extra skater as the Hawks were scoreless in their four chances while the Sharks were scoreless in their three.

Kelley turned aside 24 of 26 shots on goal for the Hawks compared to 18 saves from Tindra Holm.

Mikayla Lantto, Paula Bergström, Umpherville, and Holm joined Huson and Weber on the NEWHA All-Tournament Team.