WORCESTER, Mass. (December 7, 2024) – The Stonehill College women's hockey team suffered a narrow 1-0 loss to conference rival Assumption University in a shootout after a hard-fought, back-and-forth game that stretched through 65 minutes of regulation and overtime. With the defeat, the Skyhawks dropped to 5-14-2 overall and 5-7-2 in conference play, while the Greyhounds improve to 6-11-3 overall and 6-6-2 in the league.

Highlights

• First-year student Seina Spadone lit the lamp on her first career goal, while junior Kathryn Karo found the back of the net for her second goal of the weekend and third of the season.
• Junior co-captain Sydney Russell registered her fourth career two-assist game, while junior Bailey Feeney added her team-leading eighth assist of the season.
• Sophomore Pusle Dyring-Andersen blocked a game-high three shots on the night.
• Karo dominated the faceoff circle for the Skyhawks, winning 13 of her 15 total draws for an 86.7 percent winning percentage at the dot.
• First-year netminder Alexsa Caron tallied 39 total saves in between the pipes for Stonehill.
• First-year student Heather Ajakie and sophomore Jenna Chaplain each scored their fourth goals of the year for Assumption.
• Sophomore Kaitlyn Cielo and sophomore Rachel Agerter dished out their first and fifth helpers of the season, respectively.
• Sophomore Alexa Hanrahan recorded a game-high eight shots on goal for the Greyhounds.
• Graduate goaltender Carissa Mudrak posted 36 saves inside the crease, including all three shots faced in the shootout for Assumption.

How it Happened
Stonehill came out strong from the opening faceoff, firing seven shot attempts towards Mudrak in goal and the Greyhounds' defense in the first five minutes of the game. After the Skyhawks' early offensive pressure, the two teams settled into a back-and-forth rhythm, skating to a scoreless tie at the end of the first period.
 
After the intermission, Assumption was given its first power-play opportunity when sophomore Peyton Wise was called for a penalty. However, Caron and the Skyhawks' penalty kill stood firm, blocking four shots and keeping the game scoreless.
 
Midway through the second period, Stonehill had two prime scoring chances from Geist and junior Lucie Turcotte. At the 11:26 mark, Geist fired a shot off the post, narrowly missing the Skyhawks' first goal of the game. Moments later, Turcotte followed up with a one-timer off a rebound that just missed wide of the net. Despite taking another penalty late in the period, Stonehill's penalty kill remained effective, and the game entered the final frame tied at zero.
 
Assumption struck first in the third period, taking a 1-0 lead just 1:35 into the frame when Ajakie scored her second goal of the weekend. However, less than 20 seconds later, Stonehill answered back. Spadone received a pass from her defensive partner Russell at the blue line and fired a one-time shot that found the back of the net, tying the game at 1-1.
 
Minutes later, at the 8:16 mark, Stonehill took its first lead of the game while on the power play. Feeney skated through Assumption defenders before passing to Russell on the point, who fired a shot on goal. The puck deflected out to Karo in the far-side faceoff circle, where she quickly fired it into the top-right corner of the net, giving the Skyhawks a 2-1 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining in regulation.
 
Assumption responded at the 11:52 mark with an equalizer from Chaplain, making it 2-2. After the goal, both teams battled back and forth, but neither could score, sending the game into overtime tied at two.
 
In overtime, both teams had excellent scoring opportunities, but Caron and Mudrak stood tall, keeping the score level and forcing a shootout to determine the winner. During the shootout, Ajakie scored the decisive goal, sliding a shot through Caron's pads and over the goal line.

Up Next
Stonehill (5-14-2, 5-7-2 NEWHA) will take a four-week hiatus before returning to action on Friday, January 10 for the opener of a two-game weekend set in Brookeville, New York, against Long Island University. Puck drop between the Skyhawks and Sharks from the Northwell Health Ice Center is set for 3 PM.  
 
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.