Sept. 27, 2008

Box Score

Storrs, CT - The Sacred Heart women's hockey team was outshot 61-16 and lost their season opener to UCONN 13-0. UCONN scored with their first shot on goal and never looked back. Freshman Amanda Nagel (Greenwood, MN/Benlide-St. Margaret) entered the game midway in the first period and tallied 44 saves in her first game as a Pioneer.

UCONN's Amy Hollstein opened the scoring by beating Pioneers starter Raelene Sydor (St. Albert, AB/St. Albert-Kal- Tire Slash) over her left shoulder. The Huskies scored three more goals in the period, the last coming on a two-man down break away that bounced off the glove of Sydor. It was after this that head coach Tom O'Malley turned to Nagel, his other freshman goaltender.

The first period onslaught continued but the Pioneer defense stood tall, with most of the credit going to several outstanding saves made by Nagel. With 1:45 remaining in the stanza Nagel played a puck to the right of her net and was tripped by a UCONN attacker. The puck found its way onto the stick of an attacking Husky, but Nagel managed to scramble back into her crease and come up with an outstanding save.

After the game Nagel said, "I was definitely surprised to get in the game so early but I try and always stay ready. I think it was helpful I faced so many shots early because it settled me down".

The first half of the second period featured more back and forth action despite the Huskies adding two markers, making the score 6-0. The Pioneers had their best scoring opportunity of the period as Lauren Fontaine (Montreal, QC/Morristown-Beard) slid the puck through the crease to an open Sara Reddington (Needham, MA/Needham) who simply couldn't find the handle to tip in the loose puck.

Nagel stoned the Huskies on several break away opportunities but the wheels finally came off the wagon at the end of the second period. UCONN scored two more shorthanded goals in the period. The final one coming with five seconds to go in the period as Brittany Hartman (Prior Lake, MN/Edina) turned the puck over deep in her own zone to an opposing forechecker.

The Pioneers came into the third period flat and surrendered five more goals, bringing the final score to 13-0. Kate Dunlop (Flesherton, ON/Clearview Ice Stars) and Fontaine both had breakaway opportunities in the frame. However, neither could capitalize as Dunlop could not put a shot on goal while Fontaine was dragged down from behind, drawing a penalty.

Head coach O'Malley did find a silver lining in the game commenting, "The girls never quit and we did do some things well, but were simply overpowered. Amanda Nagel did a great job after coming in cold and it was great to have Gina Arnone (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) back. With so many new faces on the team this game served as a learning experience, the girls now know what college hockey is all about."

The Pioneers are back in action for their home opener October 11 as they take on Robert Morris College at the Wonderland of Ice. The puck is scheduled to drop at 2:00 pm.