Jan. 3, 2009

Box Score

Bridgeport, CT- One day removed from a dramatic 4-4 tie with RIT the Pioneers were unable to contain a potent Tiger offense Saturday afternoon. Amanda Klassen notched a hat trick in the win for RIT as 13 different Tigers recorded a point. Jaclyn Rideout (Wilmington, MA), Gina Arnone (Bridgewater, NJ), and Allie Gillman (Montreal, QC) tallied goals for the Pioneers.

Sacred Heart (5-10-1) started the game down one skater after a roster violation forced them to send a man to the box. Things never turned for the Pioneers who were outscored 6-1 in the first period and allowed two short handed goals. Starting at the 11:30 mark RIT (10-1-2) poured in four goals in less than two minutes. Rideout notched Sacred Heart's lone goal of the period after banking a crossing pass off of a defenders skate and through the goaltenders legs.

The second period featured more balanced action but the Tigers lit the lamp first on Ali Hills' eighth goal of the season. Arnone earned her tally later in the stanza on a break away marker, Nicole Palazzo (Rocky Hill, CT) earned the assist after starting the play in the defensive end.

The Pioneers showed their frustration in the third period as they committed five penalties, including a 10 minute misconduct penalty issued to Arnone. Gillman scored her first goal of the season and Sacred Heart's last goal of the night after Tiger goaltender Amy Torgerson mishandled the puck in front of her own net. Gillman was left alone and used a backhand to flip the loose puck into the empty goal.

The Pioneers were outshot 37-27 in the game and both teams committed 26 minutes worth of penalties. Sacred Heart went 2-10 in power play opportunities as RIT also posted two power play goals in only attempts.

Sacred Heart is back in action as the Pioneers travel to Southern Maine for a mid-week series against Southern Maine. The Pioneers will look for a win as the puck drops at 2:00 pm on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons in Gorham, Maine.