BRIDGEWATER, Mass. — Carly Greene's 33-save shutout secured the first New England Women's Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) sweep of the season for the Sacred Heart University women's hockey team as it downed the Stonehill Skyhawks, 2-0, from the Bridgewater Ice Arena on Saturday afternoon.
In a dominating first period, the Pioneers made the most of their afternoon matinee in Massachusetts, peppering Stonehill starting netminder Alexsa Caron through the first 10 minutes of action. Just past the midway point of the period, the Pios made a nuisance in the offensive zone, pinching the puck along the end boards. With Stonehill failing to clear the puck out of the zone, forward
Isabella Chaput made a tenacious effort to send a loose puck toward
Ella Holm in the slot that the forward wired past Caron to put the Pios up, 1-0 with seven minutes left in the frame. SHU continued to pester the Skyhawks for the remainder of the period, sending 13 shots toward the Stonehill net, taking a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
With the previous night's tilt having been a back-and-forth affair, the Pios started the period off with a shortened five-on-three power play that ultimately went awry. However, later in the period, the Pios found the elusive two-goal advantage they could not find last night as the Antonakis sisters combined for SHU's second goal of the game. Sydney, having shielded off her defender along the left wing, found her sister Alyssa streaking toward the front of the net with the latter receiving a feed and depositing a wrist shot past Caron to give the Pios a two-goal lead.
In goal, Greene continued to stymie the Skyhawks through 40 minutes of action, stuffing a multitude of high-percentage chances that made their way to her in the period. Greene eventually ended 40 minutes of action with 23 saves as the Pios took a 2-0 lead heading into the second intermission.
The Pioneers pitched a defensive masterclass in the final period, keeping the Skyhawks at bay in the remaining 20 minutes as Greene & Co. grabbed their second shutout of the season, grabbing a series sweep via a 2-0 decision.
Top Performers:
Of Note:
- With a goal in Saturday's contest, E. Holm has goals in two of the last three games and is currently on a four-game point streak.
- A. Antonakis' goal is the first of her career in the Red & White and is her third point in the last four games after recording points in both games in this weekend's series.
- Greene's 33-save shutout performance is her second shutout of the season and second in the last three games.
- Chaput's assist on E. Holm's goal is her third helper of the season with the Pioneer sophomore having secured points in three of the last four games.
Up Next:
The Pioneers are back in action following a week hiatus, taking part in a conference home-and-home against LIU. Puck drop from Northwell Health Ice Arena on Friday, November 1 is scheduled for 3 p.m. while Saturday's contest from Martire Family Arena is slated 2 p.m. More information can be found at sacredheartpioneers.com.
