How it Happened
After an even start to the conference contest, the Skyhawks would gain the first grade-A scoring chance at 9:05 on a 2-on-1 break with Feeney and sophomore
Peyton Wise. However, on a redirect in front by Wise, Thompson would stick out her right pad and deny the Skyhawk's bid for the back of the net midway through the opening period.
With seven minutes left in the first, the Sharks continued to apply offensive zone pressure and generate chances with their forecheck. In a scramble in front of the net, LIU was held off the board as the Skyhawks defense surrounded Caron to keep the puck out of the net, allowing their goaltender to freeze the puck and keep the game scoreless.
After a late slashing penalty called on Mendeszoon
, the Sharks would find the back of the net on the power play off the stick of Weilandt for the game's opening score.
Stonehill came out of the gates strong to start the second period, outshooting LIU 8-3 over the first six minutes of play. Midway through the second, at the 10:16 mark, the Skyhawks would break through and even the game up at one when Achtyl sent a rebounded shot off the stick of Feeney into the back of the cage for her first goal of the season.
Just over two minutes after Achtyl's lamp-lighter, the Skyhawks would grab their first lead of the game when Mendeszoon deflected a shot off the point by sophomore
Pusle Dyring-Andersen into the back of the net for her first goal of the season.
After Mendeszoon's goal gave Stonehill the lead, the Skyhawks would take a pair of penalties to go two-skaters down with six minutes left in the middle frame. Despite being shorthanded on the ice for two minutes, Caron and the Skyhawk's penalty kill unit would stand tall on their defensive end, blocking a pair of shots and keeping the puck out of their net.
Coming out into the third period, Stonehill would double its advantage on the scoreboard just 2:38 into the final frame of regulation. Barrett forced a Shark turnover in the neutral zone and sent a pass to Feeney, who scored a shorthanded short-side goal, giving the Skyhawks a 3-1 lead.
At the 11:16 mark of the third, Wallner would cut the LIU deficit to one after deking through the Skyhawk's defense and sliding a puck past Caron for her third goal of the weekend set. Following Wallner's lamp-lighter, Stonehill's defense would stifle the Sharks throughout the remainder of regulation to hold on for the narrow 3-2 victory over the Sharks.
Up Next
Stonehill (1-4, 1-1 NEWHA) returns to action next weekend as Sacred Heart will travel up to Bridgewater, Mass., for a two-game weekend set. Puck drop of Friday's series opener between the Skyhawks and Pioneers is set for 5 p.m. inside the Bridgewater Ice Arena.
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