FREDERICK, Md. – The Hood College women's ice hockey team kept things consistent against Middle Atlantic Conference foe King's College, scoring once per period for a 3-0 bounce-back win.
Inside the Box Score
Emily Cross (Bryantown, Md./Tri-City Eagles),
Meghan Savage (Mount Pleasant, Sc./Florida Alliance), and
Sofie Ancona (Grosse Point Farms, Mi./Saint Clair Shores Saints) scored for the Blazers.
Alyssa Wilson (Scottsdale, Az./Dallas Stars Elite AAA),
Ella Phillips (Midlothian, Va./North American Hockey Academy),
Dakota Ormiston (Scituate, Ma./Portsmouth Abbey), and
Mia Cheesebrough (Mendota Heights, Mn./Two Rivers/St. Paul Riveters) each earned a point for assists on the night.
Maggie Grijalva (Fullerton, Ca./Anaheim Lady Ducks AAA) stopped all 17 shots she faced for the shutout win.
How it Happened
Both teams had a bit of a slow start, but after Hood was able to sustain offensive zone pressure, a boarding call would put it on the penalty kill just three minutes in. The Blazers allowed just one shot on the power play though and immediately went back on the offensive after getting back to full strength. The persistence eventually paid off for them, as they earned a power play they were able to capitalize on, with Cross using a screen from a King's player to wrist a shot past Will McPherson and give Hood a 1-0 lead.
The Monarchs were given no rest after the goal, as the Blazers continued to pepper the net for the remainder of the period, taking time at the end of it to kill off another penalty and maintain their one-goal lead into the first intermission.
Period two was not much different from the first, with Hood continuing to put up shot-after-shot but continued to be stonewalled by McPherson. Yet another penalty interrupted its constant attack, but after killing that off thanks to big saves from Grijalva, the Blazers would return to their constant offense. After drawing another penalty but keeping possession to allow an extra attacker onto the ice, Savage maintained possession around the net and wired a shot through traffic to make it a 2-0 game. It took a second for Hood to start putting up shots again after the second goal, and after being stopped by McPherson once again, Grijalva ended up needing to make a pair of last second saves to keep the shutout going into the third period.
King's had their first elongated offensive zone time in the first few minutes of the final frame but saves from Grijalva and a good block from
Reece Gall (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Buffalo Regals U19) kept the Monarchs off the board. Despite Hood controlling the pace of play most of the game, a momentary slip gave King's a wide open chance in the slot, but again Grijalva was there to keep the momentum towards the Blazers.
From then on, Hood was in control for most of the rest of the game and, with the goalie pulled, Ancona was able to outrace the Monarchs' players to a loose puck in the visiting end and ice the game with a 3-0 final.
For the Opponent
McPherson made 56 saves in the loss.
Analysis
Hood outshot King's 58-17.
The Blazers scored on their only power play opportunity, while the Monarchs went 0-3 on their player advantages.
Hood had a 37-18 advantage in faceoffs.
Notes
The Blazers improve to 12-6-2 (8-6-2) and have the program's first season sweep, while the Monarchs drop to 1-19 (1-15).
Up Next
Hood takes a trip to Annville, Pennsylvania to try and take the season series against Lebanon Valley College Friday, February 6 at 7 p.m.
