BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (February 28, 2025) – The Stonehill College women's hockey team claimed a 2-1 victory over rival Saint Anselm College in a thrilling double-overtime finish on Friday night at the Bridgewater Ice Arena, taking game one of its best-of-three New England Women's Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) Quarterfinal series. With the win, the Skyhawks improved to 14-17-5 for the season, while the Hawks fell to 10-18-7 overall.

Highlights

• As a team, Stonehill outshot Saint Anselm 69-35, setting a new program record for shots on goal in a single game, surpassing the previous high of 56 against Saint Michael's College on January 20, 2024.
• Sophomore Peyton Wise tied her career-high, scoring her fourth goal of the season with assists from junior Maddison Achtyl and sophomore Pusle Dyring-Andersen.
• Graduate student Maeve Connolly scored the game-winning goal in overtime, marking her seventh goal of the season and her third in the last four games.
• First-year goaltender Alexsa Caron earned her 11th win of the season, limiting the Hawks to one goal on 35 shots faced.
• The Skyhawks' centers, including junior Kathryn Karo, junior Brianna Walkom, senior Josie Mendeszoon, and Connolly, dominated in the faceoff circle, winning 56 of 89 draws on the night.
• Karo led the Skyhawks' faceoff efforts, winning 27 of 37 draws.
• Junior Brooklyn Schneiderhan scored the lone goal for the Hawks, assisted by senior Tyra Turner and sophomore Brenna Young.
• Junior Sydney Merritt led the team with three blocked shots.
• Junior goaltender Ava Hills recorded an impressive 67 saves in net for Saint Anselm.

How it Happened
Stonehill came out strong in the opening period, outshooting Saint Anselm 12-5. Midway through the frame, a slashing penalty on Achtyl gave the Hawks their first power-play opportunity of the night. Despite being short-handed for two minutes, the Skyhawks' penalty kill unit was exceptional, allowing only one shot on goal during the kill. However, once the penalty expired, Saint Anselm capitalized, taking the lead at the 15:09 mark when Schneiderhan scored her 10th goal of the season, slipping the puck through the pads of Caron.
 
In the closing minutes of the first period, junior Gracie Sacca fired a wrist shot into the top right corner of the Saint Anselm net, seemingly tying the game. Unfortunately, the goal was disallowed by the officials, who ruled the puck had been deflected by a high stick. As a result, the game went into the break with Saint Anselm leading 1-0.
 
Still trailing by one after the first intermission, the Skyhawks came out with relentless offensive pressure in the second period, registering 28 shots on goal. At the 9:10 mark, a perfect transition play saw Dyring-Andersen and Achtyl connect with Wise, who blasted a shot over the glove of Hills to tie the game at 1-1.
 
With the game still tied heading into the third period, both teams exchanged shots on goal and power-play opportunities. However, neither side could break the deadlock, and regulation ended with the score tied at 1-1. In the first overtime period, Stonehill regained its offensive momentum, outshooting Saint Anselm 22-5 and generating two power-play opportunities. Despite the offensive pressure, both teams' defenses held strong, sending the game into a second overtime period.
 
Just 46 seconds into the second overtime, Connolly pounced on an errant pass in the Hawks' defensive zone, driving to the net and pushing the puck over the goal line for the game-winning goal. The Skyhawks celebrated as a team after Connolly's thrilling double-overtime goal sealed the victory.

Up Next
Stonehill (14-17-5, 13-10-5 NEWHA) will continue its best-of-three NEWHA Quarterfinal series against Saint Anselm tomorrow night. Puck drop between the Skyhawks and Hawks from inside the Bridgewater Ice Arena is set for 6:30 PM.  
 
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.