Storrs, Conn. –  The Sacred Heart University women's ice hockey team took a break from conference play and fell to Yale in their first game of the Nutmeg Classic on Friday night, 5-0. 
 
Records:
Sacred Heart: 5-9-0 (4-7-0 NEWHA) 
Yale: 8-5-0 (4-4-0 ECAC
 
Top Performers:
Grayson Limke: 4 shots
Kailey Smith: 2 shots | 2 blocked shots 
Ella Holm: 3 shots | 2 blocked shots
 
Goaltending:
Sacred Heart: Mia Wendell (L, 0-3-0): 5 goals against | 66 saves
Yale: Samson Frey: 0 goals against | 19 saves
 
How it Happened:

• The Bulldogs came out firing to start the game. Just three minutes into the first period, the Pioneers were tested early after taking a body-checking penalty that put them on the penalty kill. A minute and a half into the power play, Yale capitalized and opened the scoring. The Bulldogs controlled the puck for most of the period, but the Pios still generated a few quality chances, including shots from Zielinska and Bowlby. In the final minutes of the period, Yale doubled its lead on a second-chance opportunity, sending the Pioneers into the intermission down 2–0.
• The second period followed a similar script, with the Bulldogs maintaining puck possession for much of the frame. Sacred Heart's best chance came on a breakaway from Carroll, but she was tripped up before she could finish the play. With about eight minutes remaining, Yale struck again to extend its lead to 3–0.
• The Pioneers pushed to get back into the game in the third period but couldn't break through. Yale controlled the pace the rest of the way and added two late goals to seal the 5–0 final.

 
Of Note:

• Wendell saved a career high 66 shots
• Sacred Heart had 17 blocked shots 
• Yale won the shots on goal battle and the faceoff battle

 
Up Next: 
The Pioneers are back in action tomorrow afternoon as they take on the number nine-ranked Quinnipiac Bobcats for the third-place game of the Nutmeg Classic tournament. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:00 pm at the Toscano Family Ice Forum, Storrs, Connecticut.