Nov. 22, 2008

Box Score

Bridgeport, CT-Lauren Fontaine's (Windsor, ON) short-handed goal with 13 seconds to go in the first period proved to be the game winner as the Pioneers defeated Hamline 4-1 this afternoon. Sacred Heart committed eight penalties in the first stanza but did not allow the Pipers to convert on any power play opportunity. Whitney Dziama (Walpole, MA) scored twice and Gina Arnone (Bridgewater, NJ) added three assists in the victory.

The Pioneers (3-5-0) received an early boost from goaltender Amanda Nagel (Greenwood, MN) who turned away a Hamline (4-3-0) 2 on 0 break only two minutes into the contest. SHU converted three minutes later on their own 2 on 0 rush as Dziama banked in the opening goal off the skate of Piper net minder Amanda Plumm.

The first period had no flow and saw a total 12 penalties, 8 charged to Sacred Heart. Fontaine's short-handed goal found the back of the net with three Pioneers watching from the penalty box. Cortney Hansen scored the Pipers lone goal in the second period to cut the SHU lead to 2-1. The Pioneers again stole the momentum back at the very end of the frame as Kristina Feltz (Edison, NJ) scored her first goal of the season with 27 seconds on the clock.

Sacred Heart scored in the final 35 seconds of every period. The final marker of the afternoon came on a Dziama redirection with 35 seconds remaining in the contest. Nagel made 31 saves and only allowed one goal after shutting out Nichols just one week ago. The Pioneers outshot the Pipers 38-32 and 19-8 in the final period as they cruised to their third win of the season.

SHU will look for the series sweep in the second game of the series tomorrow afternoon. Game time is set for 2:00 pm in Bridgeport, CT at the Wonderland of Ice.