Ryskamp Propels Women's Hockey Past Stonehill, 4-2

Saturday, November 11

Fairfield, Conn.

2 p.m.

Sacred Heart

4-9-0, 3-5-0

Stonehill

7-7-0, 7-3-0

Team	1	2	3	F
Stonehill	1	1	0	2
Sacred Heart	0	1	3	4

Photo by: Maddie McCall

Ryskamp Propels Women's Hockey Past Stonehill, 4-2

11/11/2023 4:55:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey

Box Score

Sophomore records first goals of the season

By: Cameron McClarren

FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Three third-period goals served as the driving force as the Sacred Heart University women's ice hockey team completed the comeback, earning a 4-2 win over Stonehill College to split the weekend series at home on Saturday afternoon.

The Pioneers came out strong in the opening period, putting the Skyhawks under pressure immediately but could not find the touch to open the scoring in the early going. SHU's Izzy Chaput drew a pair of power plays in the first 20 minutes, giving her team an opportunity to break the deadlock. However, the Pios could not convert with the advantage, going 0-for-2 in the period.

Having withstood the pressure from the home side, Stonehill managed to strike with just 30 seconds left in the period to take a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission. After a failed SHU clearance, the Skyhawks funneled the puck to the far hash marks as Pusle Dyring-Anderson's shot was deflected by Peyton Wise in the low slot, making it past SHU netminder Carly Greene and into the back of the net to earn the early 1-0 lead.

Stonehill came out of the break with a mission, immediately hemming the Pios in the defensive zone for the first five minutes of the period. With the pressure, the Skyhawks doubled the lead as Josie Mendeszoon's shot deflected off a stick in front, fluttering past Greene and into the net to five Stonehill a 2-0 lead just over five minutes into the period.

The Pioneers found their way back in the game as Iyla Ryskamp fired home her first goal of the season to cut the deficit in half just before the midway point of the second period. Late in a shift, Ryskamp received the puck at the center logo and dangled around her defender and sent a wrist shot into the corner for SHU's first goal of the series.

The Skyhawks earned themselves a momentous opportunity late in the middle frame to extend the lead back to two, earning 90 seconds of a two-skater advantage after two quick-fire SHU penalties. However, the Skyhawks could not get past a stingy SHU penalty kill as the sides traded blows in the period en route to the visitors maintaining their one goal lead heading into the final 20 minutes of action.

Looking to continue the momentum from the tail end of the second period, the Red & White found the equalizing goal just over five minutes into the final frame to knot the game, 2-2. With Paige McNeil winning an offensive zone draw, Ryskamp fired a wrist shot from the wing that made its way past a plethora of bodies in front, as well as Stonehill netminder, for her second goal of the game.

Late in the frame, both sides found themselves in penalty trouble as the special teams battle continued with the Pios holding the Skyhawks at bay in their two opportunities on the job. After a successful kill, the Pios went back to work, earning their first lead of the game as Sydney Antonakis ushered home her fifth of the season to give SHU the lead with just over five minutes left to play. Off a broken play along the wing, Antonakis scooped up a loose puck along the hash marks and fired a wrist shot past a screened Eve Stone to make it 3-2 in favor of the home side.

With under a minute to go, the Pioneers found their insurance goal as McNeil earned her second goal of the campaign, firing a puck home on an empty net, bookending a three-goal third period for the Red & White as the Pios took the 4-2 comeback victory.

Top Performers:

Iyla Ryskamp: 2 goals, 5 shots on goal, 2 blocks
Sydney Antonakis: 1 game-winning goal, 1 assist
Paige McNeil: 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 blocks
Carly Greene: 24 saves, 2 goals allowed

Of Note:

Ryskamp's two goals were her first and second goals of the season and her first goal since a 2-1 loss to LIU on February 2, 2023.
Ryskamp has now recorded three two-goal performances in her collegiate career, registering her first multi-goal performance since November 12, 2022 in a 6-4 win over Stonehill.
Antonakis' goal in the third period was her first game-winning goal this season and her fifth tally overall, placing her second on the team in goal scoring.
With an assist, Isabella Chaput has recorded a point in three of the last four games as she remains tied for the team lead with 10 points alongside linemate Kate Helgeson.
McNeil's empty-net tally was her second of the season and first since scoring against Lindenwood on October 20 in the Ice Breaker Tournament.
Peyton Bennetts' earned her first collegiate point, recording an assist on Antonakis' game-winning goal.

Up Next:
The Pioneers hit the road for the remainder of the month starting next weekend with a two-game tilt against Saint Michael's on Friday, November 17 and Saturday, November 18. Friday's game at Cairns Arena is slated for 7 p.m. while Saturday's contest is scheduled for 3 p.m. Live statistics and livestream information will be available on sacredheartpioneers.com.