BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (February 28, 2026) – The Stonehill College women's hockey team punched its ticket to the NEWHA Semifinals with a dramatic 4–3 overtime win over Long Island University on Saturday at Bridgewater Ice Arena. With the victory, the Skyhawks improved to 18-16-2 overall, while the Sharks' season ended at 18-17-1.
 
Highlights

• First-year student Summer Combe and senior Lily Barrett paced the Skyhawks with multi-point performances, each tallying a goal and an assist.
• Senior Sydney Russell netted her sixth goal of the season, while sophomore Seina Spadone delivered the overtime game-winner — the second game-winning goal of her collegiate career.
• Seniors Bailey Feeney, Lily Geist, and Lucie Turcotte, along with first-year student Payton Palsa and Masyn Mullin, all contributed assists in the victory.
• Palsa and senior Mia Kenmore controlled the faceoff circle, combining to go 19-for-28 on the day.
• Senior goaltender Eve Stone earned her ninth win of the season, turning aside 35 shots between the pipes. The performance marked her eighth game this year with at least 35 saves.

 
How It Happened
Stonehill wasted no time seizing control in game two of its NEWHA quarterfinal matchup against LIU, racing out to a 2-0 lead just 2:30 into the opening frame.

Barrett opened the scoring with her third goal of the season at the 1:21 mark, and Russell followed with a blast from the point at 2:30 to give the Skyhawks an early two-goal cushion.

From 4:51 to 11:01 of the first period, Stonehill dominated possession, piling up 19 shot attempts — including 11 on goal — while holding the Sharks without a single shot during the six-minute stretch. At 11:14, Combe slipped a shot from below the goal line past goaltender Clara Kammholz for her second goal of the playoffs and 10th of the season, extending the lead to 3-0 midway through the period. LIU answered at 13:01 when Evelyn Latka netted her fourth goal of the year to cut into the deficit.

The Sharks flipped the momentum in the second period, outshooting the Skyhawks 12-6 and striking twice to even the score. Emma Mörtl tallied her third of the season at 8:51, and Grace Babington buried the game-tying goal at 11:30, sending the teams into the final frame deadlocked at three.

LIU continued to press in the third, searching for the go-ahead tally, but Stone and the Skyhawks' defensive unit stood tall to force overtime. Late in regulation, Stonehill's penalty kill delivered a pivotal five-on-three stand. During a remarkable 25-second sequence, seniors Maddi Achtyl, Feeney, and Russell combined to block four shots, preserving the tie and sending the contest to an extra session.

After a back-and-forth start to overtime, Stonehill built sustained offensive pressure. At 7:19, following a faceoff win by Palsa, Combe found Spadone open at the far post. Spadone chipped the puck home for her second career game-winning goal, sealing a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory and sparking celebration as the Skyhawks advanced to the semifinals.
 
Up Next
Stonehill College (18–16–2, 16–10–2 NEWHA) will continue its season on Wednesday in the Semifinal round of the NEWHA Tournament.

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