FAIRFIELD, Conn. (January 16, 2026) – The Stonehill College women's hockey team earned a 4–1 victory over NEWHA rival Sacred Heart University on Friday afternoon at Martire Family Arena, fueled by four different goal scorers. With the win, the Skyhawks improved to 11–11–1 overall and 11–5–1 in conference play, while the Pioneers fell to 5–17–1 overall and 4–12–1 against NEWHA opponents.
 
Highlights

• Stonehill won the faceoff battle, 36–24, while Sacred Heart held the edge in shots on goal, 43–26.
• Sophomore netminder Alexsa Caron turned in a stellar performance, stopping 42 shots to record her sixth game of the season with at least 40 saves.
• Senior Gracie Sacca, junior Peyton Wise, and first-year students Payton Palsa and Summer Combe each found the back of the net for the Skyhawks.
• Seniors Sydney Russell and Lucie Turcotte, along with Wise and first-year student Maddie Bibeau, registered assists.
• Senior Maddi Achtyl and sophomores Reagan Whynot and Seina Spadone shared the team high in blocked shots with three apiece.

 
How It Happened
Sacred Heart struck first at the 8:02 mark of the opening period, as Peyton Bennetts finished a feed from Lake Bethard by picking the top corner over the glove of Skyhawks netminder Caron for her second goal of the season. Just over three minutes later, Stonehill answered to even the score. At 11:21 of the first, Bibeau connected with Wise on a stretch pass up ice, springing the junior forward on a breakaway where she buried her third goal of the season.

Following Wise's equalizer, the Pioneers controlled much of the offensive zone, outshooting the Skyhawks 9–2 over the remainder of the period. Despite the sustained pressure, Caron and the Stonehill defense held firm, sending the teams into the first intermission tied at 1–1.

The second stanza featured a back-and-forth battle, with five combined power plays and 26 total shots on goal between the two sides. In the midst of the action, Palsa netted the first goal of her collegiate career, forcing a turnover in the neutral zone before snapping a shot into the top-right corner of the Sacred Heart net at the 8:51 mark to give Stonehill a 2–1 lead.

Carrying the one-goal advantage into the third period, Stonehill extended its lead early in the frame. At 4:27, Combe split the Sacred Heart defense and finished an up-ice feed from Turcotte to record her fifth goal of the season, pushing the Skyhawks ahead by two.

With 7:45 remaining in regulation, Bibeau made a highlight-reel diving block to deny a goal on an open net, preserving Stonehill's two-goal cushion. The Pioneers later pulled the goalie and skated with a two-player advantage in the closing minutes, but the Skyhawks remained resolute defensively. Sacca sealed the victory with an empty-net goal, securing the 4–1 triumph.
 
Up Next
Stonehill (11-11-1, 11-5-1 NEWHA) wraps up its two-game series at Sacred Heart University at the Martire Family Arena in Fairfield, Conn., tomorrow at 2 p.m.

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