BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (January 25, 2025) – The Stonehill College women's hockey team extended its winning streak to six games with a 3-0 shutout victory over Saint Michael's College on Saturday afternoon, securing their third consecutive two-game weekend sweep to start the calendar year. With the win, the Skyhawks improved to 10-14-3 overall and 10-7-3 in conference play, while the Purple Knights fell to 3-23 overall and 3-17 in conference action.

Highlights

• Stonehill dominated the faceoff circle, winning 34 of 50 total draws on the afternoon.
• The Skyhawks' quartet of centers—Maeve Connolly, Josie Mendeszoon, Kathryn Karo, and Brianna Walkom—each posted a faceoff win percentage of 62.5% or better.
• Junior Bailey Feeney recorded her third two-goal game of the season and fourth of her career, leading the Skyhawks' offensive charge. Meanwhile, junior Lily Geist netted her sixth goal of the season.
• Junior co-captain Sydney Russell tied the Stonehill single-season program record with her 49th blocked shot of the season.
• Junior goaltender Eve Stone earned her first shutout of the season, stopping all 18 shots she faced.
• First-year defender Julia Chedel led the team with three shots on goal for the Purple Knights.
• Junior goaltender Annika Lavender registered 32 saves on 35 shots for Saint Michael's.

How it Happened
After a back-and-forth start to the opening frame, with each team registering four shot attempts in the first eight minutes, Stonehill struck first, taking the early lead at the 8:30 mark. Following sustained offensive pressure, Geist intercepted a pass from Saint Michael's and quickly fired a wrist shot past Lavender's blocker, finding the back of the net for her sixth goal of the season and third in the last five games.
 
Following Geist's goal, Stonehill continued to dominate possession, outshooting the Purple Knights 15-3 while successfully killing off two power-play opportunities for Saint Michael's. The Skyhawks entered the first intermission with a 1-0 lead.
 
Stonehill carried its momentum into the second period, outshooting Saint Michael's 15-4. With just 12 seconds remaining in the frame, juniors Gracie Sacca and Lily Barrett teamed up with Feeney, who redirected the puck past Lavender for her first of two goals on the day, extending the Skyhawks' lead to two heading into the third period.
 
In the opening minutes of the final frame, Stone made two incredible breakaway saves, denying Grade-A scoring chances from graduate student Mary Leys and sophomore Alizee LeBlanc to keep the Purple Knights off the board.
 
Just four minutes later, Feeney rewarded Stonehill's netminder for her clutch saves, taking an up-ice feed from Sacca and firing a wrist shot top-shelf to extend the lead. This marked the second connection of the afternoon between the two linemates. Despite a late power-play opportunity for Saint Michael's, Stone and the Skyhawks' defense stood strong, successfully staving off the Purple Knights' offensive push and securing a 3-0 shutout victory to complete the weekend sweep.

Up Next
Stonehill (10-14-3, 10-7-3 NEWHA) returns to action next weekend for a split home-and-home series against NEWHA rival Franklin Pierce University. Puck drop of Friday's series opener from inside the Bridgewater Ice Arena is set for 6 PM.  
 
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.