BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (October 3, 2025) – The Stonehill College women's hockey team came up just short in its comeback effort, falling 3-2 to non-conference opponent Syracuse University in its 2025-26 season opener Friday night at Bridgewater Ice Arena.
 
Highlights

• Senior Gracie Sacca opened the scoring just 11 seconds into the game, netting her first goal of the season off assists from linemates Lily Geist and Maddi Achtyl.
• Sophomore Reagan Whynot tallied her first collegiate goal, assisted by senior Brianna Walkom.
• Whynot also registered a career- and game-high five blocked shots on the night.
• Senior goaltender Eve Stone turned aside 39 of 42 shots in net for the Skyhawks.
• For Syracuse, Nea Tervonen, Jackson Kinsler, and Emma Gnade scored the team's first three goals of the season.
• Gnade's first collegiate goal in the second period stood as the game winner.
• Stella Costabile and Peyton Armstrong each added assists for the Orange.
• Goaltender Bella Gould recorded a career-high 24 saves to earn the win for Syracuse.

 
How it Happened
Stonehill wasted no time getting the scoring started, as just 11 seconds into the contest, Sacca lit the lamp for her first goal of the season following back-to-back in-close chances from Geist and Achtyl. However, following the Skyhawks' early tally, Syracuse seized control offensively, outshooting Stonehill 16-0 over the next 10 minutes of play. The Orange capitalized during that stretch when Tervonen netted her first goal of the season off an assist from Costabile to even the score.

The two sides traded chances the rest of the period, skating to a 1-1 tie after 20 minutes.

Coming out of the first intermission, Syracuse struck quickly again, taking its first lead of the game just 44 seconds into the middle frame when Kinsler rocketed a shot over the glove of Stone. Just over six minutes later, Gnade found the back of the net for what would stand as the game-winning goal—the first of her collegiate career—at the 7:11 mark of the period.

After a pair of power-play opportunities went by the wayside for both teams, Stonehill trimmed the deficit to one at 16:44 when Walkom rimmed the puck up the boards to Whynot, who fired a wrist shot through the five-hole for her first collegiate goal, cutting the Orange lead to 3-2 heading into the final frame.

Despite holding Syracuse scoreless in the third period, the Skyhawks were unable to find the equalizer, ultimately falling 3-2 in their season opener.
 
Up Next
Stonehill (0-1-0, 0-0-0 NEWHA) wraps up its season-opening weekend against Syracuse at the Bridgewater Ice Arena tomorrow at 1 PM.
 
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