ASTON, Pa. – The Hood College women's ice hockey team wrapped up its inaugural season with a 4-2 win over Middle Atlantic Conference opponent Neumann, spoiling the Knights' senior day.
Inside the Box Score
Sofie Ancona (Grosse Point Farms, Mi./Saint Clair Shores Saints) scored two goals for the Blazers and went 2-2 in faceoffs.
Dakota Ormiston (Scituate, Ma./Portsmouth Abbey) and
Astrid Wilbur (Alexandria, Va./Washington Pride U19) each potted a goal, with Wilbur's ending up being the game-winner.
Mia Cheesebrough (Mendota Heights, Mn./Two Rivers/St. Paul Riveters) had two assists on the day while
Kady Kratzer (Whitehall, Pa./York Lady Devils U19) finished with an assist as well.
Maggie Grijalva (Fullerton, Ca./Anaheim Lady Ducks AAA) made 27 saves in the win.
How it Happened
Hood got the first long offensive zone time of the game, but the closest they would get was a shot from the point by Ormiston that glanced off the crossbar.
Although Neumann would get some offensive zone time of its own, it could only get one shot on goal that was blocked away by Grijalva before the Blazers went back on the attack, keeping it in long enough to tire out the Knights and force a mistake that came in the way of a roughing call. Hood would only manage one shot on goal during the power play though, and a couple minutes later it would be on a penalty kill of its own after an interference call.
Grijalva was up to task, keeping things knotted at zero through the penalty kill and as the buzzer sounded for the first intermission.
The second period started with a bang, as the Blazers were awarded a penalty shot just 25 seconds in when a Knights defender illegally handled the puck in the crease. Ancona was given the nod to take the shot, and she made sure to take advantage, wiring a shot under the glove of Woodard to give Hood a 1-0 lead.
The Knights tried to respond immediately with two great chances on a rebound in front of the net, but Grijalva got over just in time to snuff them out before
Reece Gall (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Buffalo Regals U19) was able to draw a penalty and put the Blazers back on the power play.
This time, Hood would not waste the man advantage, as a shot from Kratzer provided a rebound that landed right on the stick of Ormiston who stuck it home to double the Blazers' lead just four minutes after the first goal.
Neither side could get many good looks after the Ormiston goal, but with just under six minutes left in the period, Neumann would head to the power play after an interference call, then a 5-on-3 for 30 seconds when Hood was called for roughing. Kaila
Booth would capitalize on the two-man advantage, skating through the Blazers' defense and wristing a shot past Grijalva to make it a one-goal game with just under four minutes to play. Hood would kill off the remaining penalty without any troubles and
headed into the second intermission with 51 seconds of a power play left after another roughing call went against the Knights.
The Blazers were unable to capitalize on the remainder of the power play, and Grijalva had to make more saves as they went on the penalty kill again a few minutes later, but let nothing else get by her, even as another Neumann power play halfway through the period forced Hood into another defensive stand.
Shortly after the Blazers killed off the penalty, Wilbur forced a turnover in the Knights' defensive zone and made them pay, scoring and giving Hood a 3-1 lead. That was not all the visiting Blazers had in the tank though, as Ancona would pot her second of the game just a few minutes later to effectively ice the game with under three minutes left, with Neumann squeaking in a final goal with .9 seconds left for a 4-2 final score.
For the Opponent
Booth and Kaylynn Savoy both scored for the Knights.
Noelle Woodard made 29 saves in the loss.
Analysis
Hood outshot Neumann 33-29.
Neumann had a 32-29 edge in faceoffs.
Notes
The Blazers finish the season 5-19-1 (3-17-1), while the Knights end their 2024-25 campaign at 4-17-3 (3-15-3).
Up Next
Hood heads to the offseason and will return for the 2025-26 season in the fall.
