HAGERSTOWN, Md. – The Hood College women's ice hockey team completed its sweep of non-conference opponent Framingham State University, scoring in every period in a 5-1 win.
Inside the Box Score
Alyssa Wilson (Scottsdale, Az./Dallas Stars Elite AAA) led the Blazers with two goals, the first multi-goal game of her collegiate career.
Meghan Savage's (Mount Pleasant, Sc./Florida Alliance) first collegiate goal of her career would ultimately be the game-winner.
Sofie Ancona (Grosse Point Farms, Mi./Saint Clair Shores Saints) notched a goal and two assists, and
Reece Gall (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Buffalo Regals U19) finished the game with two assists.
Molly Hawkins (Perkasie, Pa/Jr. Flyers) scored a third-period goal, while
Mia Cheesebrough (Mendota Heights, Mn./Two Rivers/St. Paul Riveters), Maria DiPierro, and
Emily Cross (Bryantown, Md./Tri-City Eagles) all finished with an assist in the game.
Maggie Grijalva (Fullerton, Ca./Anaheim Lady Ducks AAA) made 30 saves in the win
How it Happened
The Rams again started off with a flurry of shots, registering three on goal in 29 seconds, but Grijalva kept the game scoreless and allowed the Blazers to get an offensive opportunity of their own. The teams would exchange extended offensive zone chances, with Hood getting a power play opportunity, but the first goal would come a minute after it ended when Ancona skated around the defense and sent a backhanded shot over the glove of the goalie for the 1-0 lead.
The Blazers went to the power play once again just a few minutes later, and with just under two minutes to play, Savage walked in and rifled a shot into the top left corner to double their lead. Despite looking like they would head into the first intermission with the momentum though, Framingham State had other ideas, as a deflected pass fell to the stick of Finley Hogan who slotted a shot past Grijalva to make it a 2-1 game after 20 minutes.
A rare protocol violation on the Hood put it on the penalty kill to start the second period, and although it was able to kill it off successfully, that would be just the first of five total penalties the team would receive in the period. That leaves 10 minutes the Blazers were not down a player though, and in fact had a power play when Wilson cleaned up a rebound in front of the net to restore their two-goal lead. Despite having five power play opportunities, the Rams were stonewalled by Grijalva the rest of the period, with Hood holding onto its 3-1 lead with one period to play.
Although Framingham State had a power play that carried over from the previous period and even more offensive pressure after it ended, the Blazers were able to keep the puck out of their net and turn around to create some offensive chances of their own. The pressure eventually got to the Rams, and Hawkins would pickpocket a Framingham State player and beat the goalie clean to make it 4-1 Hood with just over eight minutes to play.
A common saying is a three-goal lead is the worst lead in hockey, and the Blazers knew they could not mess with superstition, as Wilson rounded out the scoring with her second of the game. After making it 5-1 with almost six minutes remaining in the third period, Hood would allow just one more shot on goal before the buzzer sounded to secure its second sweep of the season.
For the Opponent
Hogan scored the lone goal for the Rams, with Petra Cernicek assisting on it.
Lila Chamoun made 29 saves and took the loss, with Zoe Klein making nine saves in relief.
Analysis
Hood outshot Framingham State 43-31.
The Blazers went 2-5 on the power play, while the Rams could not convert on any of their six player advantages.
Hood had a 33-27 edge in faceoffs.
Up Next
The Blazers resume conference play on the road in Reading, Pennsylvania with a weekend series against Alvernia University Friday, January 9 at 6 p.m. and Saturday, January 10 at 2 p.m.
