MANCHESTER, N.H. – Senior
Abigail Blair's (Grand Island, N.Y.) late game-winner lifted the Saint Anselm College women's ice hockey team past Post University, 2-1, on Friday night to take game one of the New England Women's Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) best-of-three quarterfinal series.
UP NEXT:
- Saint Anselm returns to action for the second installment of the NEWHA Quarterfinal series on Saturday, February 24. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 p.m. from the Sullivan Arena.
Score: Saint Anselm 2, Post 1
Records: Saint Anselm 19-14-1, Post 7-27-1
Location: Manchester, N.H. (Sullivan Arena)
Date: Friday, February 23, 2024
Attendance: 137
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- In the opening minute of the game, Tristan Currie fired the first shot on target of the night to force an early save from freshman goalie Courtney Stagman (Andover, Minn.). Shortly after, freshman Julianna Herman (The Pas, Manitoba) wristed a shot on frame for the Hawks that Eagles goalie Grace Glasrud was able to stop.
- Saint Anselm gained attacking momentum nearing the midway point of the period ripping eight shots while the Eagles posted three with just one on target. At the 11:39 mark, sophomore Brooklyn Schneiderhan (Helena, Mont.) tipped the puck into the upper right shelf from the centering pass of senior Savannah Popick (South Windsor, Conn.) to give the Hawks the early 1-0 edge in the game.
- Under five minutes left in the first period, Saint Anselm earned the first power play chance of the night after Caisey Oetelaar was whistled for interference. Senior Brinna Martin (St. Michael, Minn.) produced the only two shot attempts during the man advantage, both of which Glasrud saved to keep the Hawks ahead 1-0 at the end of the first period.
- Early in the second period, Post capitalized during their second power play opportunity of the night after Macy Peterson found the back of the net to tie the game back up at 1-1. The Hawks responded by outshooting their opponents 13-1 before the media timeout featuring three shots from junior Audrey Jackson (Shoreview, Minn.). Stagman registered another three saves in the period, but the Hawks headed into the final period of the game level at 1-1.
- Saint Anselm picked up where the left by rattling off the opening 10 shots of the period with Glasrud producing seven stops. The Hawks were relentless in the attack as the final period winded down firing nine shot attempts, including a pair of shots each from senior Natalie Tulchinsky (Clifton Park, N.Y.) and Schneiderhan, in the last six minutes of the game.
- With less than a minute left in regulation, Schneiderhan skated down the right-wing side and dished the puck to Blair who blasted a shot in traffic into the bottom corner for her first collegiate game-winner to make 2-1 Hawks. The Eagles managed to register a late shot on target, but Stagman made the save to seal the victory over Post by a final score of 2-1.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Saint Anselm held a 40-12 advantage in total shot attempts including 38 on-target in comparison to Post with 11 shots on goal.
- The Eagles produced 14 blocks in the contest while the Hawks tallied six with junior Madi Ressler (Brighton, Mich.) and Popick each recording two blocks apiece.
- Saint Anselm was favored from the faceoff dot after winning 35-of-57 draws while the Eagles won 22 faceoffs. Senior Maddy McCaffery (Weymouth, Mass.) led the Hawks winning 17 of her 24 faceoffs in the game.
- Post went 1-for-3 with the extra skater producing a combined three shots and successfully fended off all three of Saint Anselm's power plays holding the Hawks to six shot attempts.
- Blair netted her first goal of the season, her fifth career score as a Hawk, which also was her first career game-winner. Schneiderhan posted her 13th goal of the year in the win with McCaffery, Ressler, and Popick each tallying an assist tonight.
- This marked the 21st meeting between the two programs with Saint Anselm remaining undefeated in the all-time series.
- It was also the second-ever NEWHA postseason match-up with the Hawks now owning a 10-2 goal differential against the Eagles.
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