MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Saint Anselm College women's ice hockey team saw its season come to a close after falling in overtime to Stonehill College on Saturday during the New England Women's Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) Semifinals at the Sullivan Arena. The Hawks wrapped up the year with a 20-16-1 overall record and went 18-9-1 in league play.
Score: Saint Anselm 2, Stonehill 3
Records: Saint Anselm 20-16-1, Stonehill 20-15-2
Location: Manchester, N.H. (Sullivan Arena)
Date: Saturday, March 2, 2024
Attendance: 226
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Hawks came out strong to start the first period firing the opening four shots of the game including two on target that Stonehill goalie Eve Stone was able to save. At the 4:04 mark, freshman goalie Courtney Stagman (Andover, Minn.) was tested by Bailey Feeney for her first stop of the afternoon. Shortly after, the Skyhawks earned the first power-play of the day, however, the Hawks defense fended off the power-play limiting Stonehill to just two shots, both of which Stagman saved.
- The Skyhawks connected eight straight shots crossing the midway point of the period forcing six saves from Stagman along with a block by sophomore Brooklyn Schneiderhan (Helena, Mont.). Saint Anselm then gained attacking momentum leading to their first power-play chance after Maeve Carey was whistled for a roughing penalty, but the Hawks were unable to register a shot to end the period still level at 0-0.
- About four minutes into the second period, senior Natalie Tulchinsky (Clifton Park, N.Y.) tipped the puck past Stone off the shot attempt by freshman Hailey Tullo (Southwick, Mass.) to put Saint Anselm ahead 1-0 early in the period. Stonehill quickly answered a couple of minutes later thanks to a score by Alexis Petford tying the game back up at 1-1.
- At the 8:50 mark, the Skyhawks were penalized for too many players on the ice to give the Hawks the extra skater. Schneiderhan soon capitalized scoring her 17th goal of the season off the helpers from junior Madi Ressler (Brighton, Mich.) and senior Savannah Popick (South Windsor, Conn.) to make it 2-1. After the Skyhawks fended off another Saint Anselm power-play, Feeney scored an unassisted goal to once again even the game at 2-2.
- The opening eight minutes of the third period, respectively, was back-and-forth as the Skyhawks held a slight 8-5 edge in shot attempts featuring five saves from Stagman. Shortly after Stonehill earned a power-play chance at the 10:23 mark, Paige Whaley was called for hooking to make it 4-on-4 briefly. Junior Audrey Jackson (Shoreview, Minn.) wristed a shot on frame but Stone was there to make the stop.
- With under three minutes remaining in regulation, Saint Anselm picked up a late power-play opportunity, but Stonehill's defense limited the Hawks to just one shot by freshman Julianna Herman (The Pas, Manitoba) that Stone stuffed to send the game into overtime.
- About a minute into the first overtime period, Saint Anselm earned another power-play chance but once again Stonehill defense came up big denying the Hawks from registering a shot with the extra skater. At the 4:52 mark, Stagman stood her ground making a pad save off the shot attempt from Kathryn Karo to keep the Skyhawks off the scoreboard.
- Stonehill strung together 11 shots, seven of which came during a power-play chance, but Saint Anselm battled to fend off the guest's attacking onslaught. With less than five minutes left, Petford rifled a shot into the upper right shelf to seal the overtime victory for Stonehill by a final score of 3-2.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Stonehill outshot Saint Anselm by a 44-38 margin featuring 41 shots on target in comparison to the Hawks with 36 on frame.
- The Hawks won the block battle producing 26 blocks featuring a team-high from senior Brinna Martin (St. Michael, Minn.) while the Skyhawks posted 13 in the game.
- Stonehill dominated from the faceoff dot winning 40-of-64 draws in the game while the Hawks won 24 faceoffs. Tulchinsky and senior Maddy McCaffery (Weymouth, Mass.) each posted double-digits in faceoff wins.
- Both teams went 1-for-7 on the power-play with the Skyhawks registering eight combined shot attempts with the extra skater while the Hawks posted just four shots.
- Tulchinsky netted her 20th score of the season ending her senior year with 42 total points to tie for third all-time in single-season program history. Schneiderhan scored her 17th goal of the year and posted three shots and four blocks in the game.
- Four different Hawks picked an assist apiece in the contest including senior Claire Weber (Marshfield, Mass.), Popick, Tullo, and Ressler.
- For the first time in program history since joining the NEWHA, Saint Anselm will not be making a championship appearance.
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