HAGERSTOWN, Md. – The Hood College women's ice hockey team held off a late comeback attempt against Lebanon Valley College, claiming a 3-1 win over the Middle Atlantic Conference rival.
Inside the Box Score
Sofie Ancona (Grosse Point Farms, Mi./Saint Clair Shores Saints) was involved in each goal, assisting on the first and scoring the last two.
Mia Cheesebrough (Mendota Heights, Mn./Two Rivers/St. Paul Riveters) finished with a goal and an assist.
Emily Cross (Bryantown, Md./Tri-City Eagles) logged two assists.
Maggie Grijalva (Fullerton, Ca./Anaheim Lady Ducks AAA) made 45 saves in the win.
How it Happened
The Flying Dutchmen got off to a fast start, testing Grijalva less than 30 seconds into the game, but the Blazers cleared the puck and went right down the ice for their own attack. As Hood kept the puck in, a shot from Cross was blocked down right to the feet of Cheesebrough, who managed to rip a shot past the goalie while falling down to give Hood the lead less than three minutes in.
After the goal, LVC cranked up the offensive pressure, registering nine shots on goal in just over six minutes, but Grijalva was up to task, keeping those out and continuing to dazzle in net, saving all 17 shots she faced to maintain the 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.
Both teams had solid chances early in the second, but each goalie made multiple key stops to keep things the same, with Mia Frisoni stopping five shots in 45 seconds for the Flying Dutchmen before Grijalva answered with some acrobatic saved of her own on the other end of the ice. Despite LVC earning a power play that kept tired legs out for the Blazers, Grijalva and the rest of the team pushed through to finish the penalty kill and reach the end of the period with their one-goal lead.
Although the Flying Dutchmen had the momentum coming into the final frame, Hood snatched it right back, as Cheesbrough pounced on a whiffed puck sitting behind the LVC goal and dished it to Ancona in front to tuck it in and double the Blazers' lead just 27 seconds into the third. Not to be outdone, the Flying Dutchmen turned around and cut the lead back to one goal just over a minute later when Tiffany Anderson tucked a cross-crease pass into the wide-open net.
With almost an entire period to play and the score sitting 2-1 Hood, LVC was able to keep up the pressure after a penalty on the Blazers just a few minutes later. Unfortunately for them, Grijalva and the rest of the defense would not allow anything past them, keeping all five shots out. Hood would get a power play opportunity of its own but would not be able to capitalize and would get called for a penalty of their own with just over 10 seconds remaining in the advantage and a little more than five minutes in the game. The Blazers would allow just two shots on goal during that penalty kill, and shortly after it ended, with 1:12 to play, Ancona broke out from her own zone, got a step around a defender, and went forehand-backhand on Frisoni for her second of the game and the dagger that clinched the team's 3-1 victory.
For the Opponent
Anderson scored the lone goal for the Flying Dutchmen, with Anna Dale and Addison Taylert assisting.
Frisoni made 27 saves in the loss.
Analysis
LVC outshot Hood 46-30.
The Blazers went 0-3 on power play opportunities, and the Flying Dutchmen failed to convert on any of their four advantages.
LVC had a 33-27 edge in faceoffs.
Notes
Hood defeats the Flying Dutchmen for the first time in program history to improve to 2-3-2 (2-3-2), while LVC drops to 7-2 (5-2).
Up Next
The Blazers wrap up the weekend series with the Flying Dutchmen at Hagerstown Ice & Sports Complex Sunday, November 30 at 2:45 p.m.
