HAGERSTOWN, Md. –
Kayla MacKinnon (Blain, Mn./Breck) takes part in all three goals in an offensive bout with Neumann but with the duel needing extra time and then a shootout, the end results in a 3-3 tie but a 1-0 loss in the shootout.
Inside the Box Score
Kayla MacKinnon (Blain, Mn./Breck) notched her first career goal along with two assists on the day.
Reece Gall (Niagara Falls, N.Y./St. Mary's of Lancaster) had the Blazers' first goal of the day, her third of the season.
Anna Bazylewicz (Santa Barbara, Ca./Athol Murray College of Notre Dame) scored in the second period, her second of the season.
Maggie Grijalva (Fullerton, Ca./El Dorado) had 14 saves on the day.
Hayley Turnbull (Tantallon, NS, CA/Mount Academy) had 26 in relief.
How it Happened
We got a rematch between Grijalva of Hood and Noelle Woodard of Neumann. The first game of the series was a defensive battle that Hood was left on top 1-0.
After being shutout in yesterday's game, two and a half minutes into the first period Savoy of the Knights found net and the Blazers would now need more than killing penalties to win.
MacKinnon later took the push up the ice and when taking on most of the defense found
Reece Gall (Niagara Falls, N.Y./St. Mary's of Lancaster) on the trail and the puck was punched in to already exceed scoring from the previous matchup.
The Blazers continued to be able to keep the puck in the attacking zone, slowing down the offensive setup and got multiple good looks from Gall. A young team learning that the sprint can is just one of the ways they can score.
Hood had difficulty at center ice to keep possession of the puck and many cases turning a new offensive possession into a 2-on-2 chase to prevent catastrophe.
Soon the defensive rush to the puck left Neumann's Cecelia Mick isolated and at point blank in front of the crease lofted her shot past the helmet of Grijalva to unleash what could be another shootout on the schedule.
Three minutes into the second half, a lost faceoff for the Blazers turned into a 3-on-2 ready for Neumann to capitalize before
Mia Cheesebrough (Mendota Heights, Mn./Two Rivers) closed the window knocked the puck away.
MacKinnon with another shot from the outside trickled through multiple skaters including Ancona and finally Bazylewicz and with all the traffic in front of Woodard, she could only watch the puck be already past her and across the line.
Most of the second half lived in the power play as Hood just after their goal had one of their own sent to the bin.
In response, Savoy cashed I the power play and sent a floater through the crowd that snuck right underneath the pipe to break the tie again.
Hayley Turnbull (Tantallon, NS, CA/Mount Academy) stepped in at goal for the Blazers halfway through the second and with her defensive play down the stretch kept the Knights out of goal for the remainder of game.
The Knights played far from clean hockey themselves as their penalty gave MacKinnon an opportunity to rip a shot down the lane and in to show the fight in the Blazers and get the student section rowdy.
The third was quiet between both teams as the Blazer defense kept the Knights off pace for the rest of the night and even killed a power play in overtime to bring all down to a shootout.
In the end, Neumann scored on their second attempt and the home team could not respond as the Knights escape the series loss.
For the Opponent
Kaylynn Savoy scored a pair of goals for the Knights.
Woodard made 27 saves.
Analysis
The teams stayed about even on faceoffs and shots on the day.
Hood evaded 4-of-5 power plays without giving up a goal.
Up Next
The squad will take the week to game plan for Lebanon Valley next Friday, January 31 and host in Hagerstown for a 4:45 p.m. puck drop.
