BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Sacred Heart University women's ice hockey team battled hard but came up short in a 2-0 loss to Stonehill on Saturday afternoon in New England Women's Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) action at Bridgewater Ice Arena.
Records:
Sacred Heart: (2-4-0, 1-3-0 NEWHA)
Stonehill: (2-3-0, 2-1-0 NEWHA)
Top Performers:
Peyton Bennetts: 9 shots | 5 shots on goal
Brianna Morden: 9 shots | 6 shots on goal | 2 blocks
Olivia Laroche: 7 shots | 5 shots on goal | 5 blocks
Goaltending:
Sacred Heart:
Jillian Petruno (2-2-0): 1 goal against | 46 saves
Stonehill: Eve Stone: 0 goals against | 43 saves
How it Happened:
- Sacred Heart opened strong, generating early scoring chances with five shots in the first few minutes. The defense, led by Isabella Chaput and Olivia LaRoche, blocked several key attempts to kill off multiple Stonehill power plays. Midway through the first period, the Skyhawks broke through on a power play to take a 1-0 lead.
- The second period featured stellar defensive play from both sides. Petruno stood tall between the pipes, making 15 saves to keep the Pioneers within one.
- In the third, Sacred Heart poured on the pressure, firing 28 shots and controlling the offensive zone for much of the frame. Despite drawing three Stonehill penalties and generating several dangerous rebounds, the Pioneers couldn't find the back of the net. With under a minute to play, the Skyhawks added an empty-net goal to secure the 2-0 win.
Of Note:
- Stonehill outshot Sacred Heart, 80-67.
- The Pioneers lost the faceoff battle, 34-29.
- LaRoche and Chaput combined for eight blocked shots to anchor the defense.
Up Next: The Pioneers return home next weekend for a two-game NEWHA series against Saint Michael's at the Martire Family Arena.
