MANCHESTER, N.H. (February 14, 2025) – The Stonehill College women's hockey team narrowly defeated New England Women's Hockey Alliance rival Saint Anselm College, 1-0, in a shootout, earning an additional point in the conference standings. With the win, the Skyhawks improved to 12-16-4 overall and 12-9-4 in conference play, while the Hawks fell to 10-16-5 overall and 10-10-5 in conference matchups.

Highlights

• Junior Gracie Sacca fueled the Skyhawks' offensive effort, recording her second two-goal game of her collegiate career.
• Junior Bailey Feeney dished out her team-leading 13th assist of the season and scored the deciding goal in the shootout.
• Stonehill's centers, graduate Maeve Connolly, senior Josie Mendeszoon, as well as juniors Kathryn Karo and Brianna Walkom dominated the faceoff circle, winning a combined 40-of-58 total draws on the night.
• First-year netminder Alexsa Caron stood tall in net, holding the Hawks off the board in the shootout after registering 39 saves throughout regulation.
• First-year classmates Lucy DeCoteau and Nicola Forth scored the lone goals for Saint Anselm, marking their sixth and second goals of the season, respectively.
• Junior Brooklyn Schneiderhan added her seventh assist of the year for the Hawks.
• Junior goaltender Ava Hills tallied 40 saves on 42 shots faced in between the pipes for Saint Anselm.

How it Happened
Stonehill came out strong, earning a power-play opportunity within the first minute of regulation. The Skyhawks tested Hills and the Saint Anselm defense with sustained offensive pressure, registering 10 shots on goal in the opening 10 minutes of the first period.
 
Sacca broke through at the 11:56 mark of the first, scoring the game's opening goal. After chipping the puck off the boards through the neutral zone, she skated in on a breakaway, dragging a backhanded shot past the goal line for her eighth goal of the season.
 
In the waning moments of the first period, Stonehill had a late power-play chance, recording three shots on goal, two of which came off the stick of Feeney. Despite the opportunities, the Skyhawks were unable to capitalize on the power play and took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
 
The second period began with back-and-forth play. Saint Anselm outshot the Skyhawks 16-12 in the first 17 minutes of the frame, but Stonehill extended its lead. On a two-on-one rush into the offensive zone, Feeney delivered a cross-ice pass to Sacca, who rifled a one-time shot into the back of the net for her second goal of the game and her ninth of the season.
 
However, just 15 seconds later, Saint Anselm responded. Schneiderhan found DeCoteau in the slot, and she fired a shot past Caron's left pad for her sixth goal of the year, narrowing the Hawks' deficit to 2-1 as the teams headed into the third period.
 
At the 9:09 mark of the third, Forth leveled the game at 2-2 for Saint Anselm. She scored from above the near-side faceoff circle, sending a shot off her knees into the back of the net for her second goal of the season. With the game tied, both teams traded shot attempts, and the score remained knotted at 2-2 as regulation ended.
 
In overtime, Saint Anselm outshot Stonehill 5-2, but Caron and the Skyhawks defense held strong, forcing the game to a shootout. After a scoreless first round, Feeney lit the lamp with a backhanded shot, giving Stonehill the advantage. Caron then denied the Hawks' shooters, securing the win and earning the Skyhawks an additional point in the NEWHA standings.

Up Next
Stonehill (12-16-4, 12-9-4 NEWHA) wraps up its penultimate regular season weekend series against Saint Anselm tomorrow afternoon inside the Bridgewater Ice Arena. Puck drop between the Skyhawks and Hawks is set for 1 PM.      
 
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