Sacred Heart
Union Ny
Four Third Period Goals Lifts Union over Sacred Heart
11/5/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
Nov. 4, 2005
Schenectady, NY - Union ambushed visiting Sacred Heart to the tune of four third period goals en route to a 7-2 win at Messa Rink. Junior center Elise Nichols, who led the team in scoring a season ago, netted her first two goals of the campaign in the win, while adding an assist.
It was Nichols who struck first just over nine minutes into the contest when she battled for a puck just in front of the right side of the net. Taking a feed from Linnea Edwardson, Nichols slipped shot just underneath the outstretched legs of Pioneers' goaltender Stephanie Boulay (Anchorags, AK). It was the lone goal of the opening period, which saw the Dutchwomen out shoot Sacred Heart 13-9.
However, the Union lead was short lived, as the visitors stormed out of the locker room to take a 2-1 advantage just over two minutes into the second period courtesy of a pair of goals by Michelle Panella (Marlboro, NJ) and Katelin McLaughlin (Hingham, MA).
Despite the Pioneers' sudden strike, Union bounced back when sophomore Maeve Kehoe brought the Duthwomen back to an even 2-2 score when she netted the game's lone power play goal at 15:56 off an assist by Courtney Chais. Senior captain Kate Gustafson gave Union a 3-2 lead heading into the second intermission with her first goal on the season at 3:27. Kristin Hissong was credited with an assist on the goal.
Sacred Heart nearly tied the game in the opening minute of the third period when Allie Gillman (Montreal, QC) blasted a shot off the wide post, but the Union defense recovered in time to prevent a quick rebound goal by McLaughlin.
Sacred Heart's near miss proved vital as two minutes later the Union offense exploded, getting back-to-back goals just 27 seconds apart from left wingers Ashley Kilstein and Suzy Pocock, giving the Dutchwomen a 5-2 lead.
Meanwhile, Sacred Heart struggled mightily on the power play, going 0-for-6 in the third period and 0-for-9 on the game, despite out shooting Union 38-32 on the night. The Dutchwomen finished 1-for-5 on the power play.
With the game on the verge being out of reach, Edwardson took a pass from Nichol's and scored Union's first short-handed goal in 15 outings (Nichols, 1/28/05 vs.Vermont), upping the lead to a comfy 6-2 advantage. Nichols closed out the scoring with a tally at 5:49.
Freshman goaltender Alex Zirbel in a stellar effort in net for Union, stopping 36 shots by Sacred Heart, while earning her first win collegiate win between the pipes. Stephanie Boulay denied 25 Dutchwomen shots in defeat, as the Pioneers fell to 0-5-1 on the season.
The win was Union's first on the season, as they improved to 1-4-0 overall, while remaining 0-2-0 in the ECACHL. The two teams are now knotted at 6-6-1 all-time against each other. The Dutchwomen will vie to take the series advantage in a 2:00 p.m. rematch tomorrow at Messa Rink.
