FREDERICK, Md. – The Hood College women's ice hockey team held on for a 3-2 win against Middle Atlantic Conference foe Neumann University, sweeping the Knights and keeping itself in the race for the final playoff spot.
Inside the Box Score
Sofie Ancona (Grosse Point Farms, Mi./Saint Clair Shores Saints) scored a goal and registered an assist, while
Mia Cheesebrough (Mendota Heights, Mn./Two Rivers/St. Paul Riveters) assisted on each of the Blazers' goals.
Maria DiPierro's first collegiate goal opened the game's scoring, with
Renata Petrella (Cranberry Township, Pa./Nashville Jr. Predators U19) logging the team's second goal.
Kamryn Sohner (Hilliard, Oh./Dallas Stars Elite AAA) made 23 saves in net.
How it Happened
An early body checking call put Hood on the back foot just 3:27 into the game, but it allowed just one shot on goal and even had a shorthanded chance from Ancona stopped by Neumann goalie Noelle Woodard. The Blazers got a power play chance of their own a few minutes later, but after being stonewalled during the advantage, a shot from the point by DiPierro rainbowed over everyone and behind Woodard to give the home team a 1-0 lead.
Hood got right back on attack after the goal, but after being unable to get another one in the back of the net, the Knights were able to mount an attack of their own with two minutes to play. Thankfully, Sohner came up big to keep the Blazers' lead intact heading into the first intermission.
Another early penalty sent Hood to the power play this time, but the Neumann penalty-killing unit stopped everything thrown at them. The number of shots clearly took a toll on their energy though, and Petrella was able to tip a shot from the point just enough for it to sneak past Woodard and double the Blazers' lead.
A Hood penalty eight minutes in put the Knights back on the power play, but again the Blazers' penalty killing unit stifled every chance, not allowing a single shot on goal. After killing it off, Hood would again find itself constantly in Neumann's defensive zone, but its lead would stay at 2-0 after 40 minutes.
Both teams came out aggressive to start the third period, and it would be the Knights who would strike first, flipping the script on several straight minutes of Blazer offense when Gia Santorello rifled a shot home and cut Hood's lead in half.
The potential momentum swing forced head coach
Josh Funk to call a timeout, and whatever was said during that time clearly seemed to work, as Ancona responded with a rifle of her own just over a minute later to restore the team's two-goal lead.
Neither squad was able to maintain too much possession at once after Ancona's goal, but the Knights began to mount pressure again after pulling Woodard with 2:30 to play. With the Blazers unable to clear, Santorello showed off her skills with another blast into the top corner of the net, cutting Hood's lead to just 3-2 with 1:25 left in regulation.
Unfortunately for the Blazers, the hits did not stop there, as a penalty gave Neumann a 6-on-4 advantage for the remainder of the period. Sohner clearly had Valentine's Day plans to attend to though, making save after save in the final minute to preserve the home win.
Analysis
Hood outshot Neumann 33-25.
The Blazers went 0-2 on power play chances, with the Knights unable to convert any of their four opportunities.
Hood had a 24-21 edge in faceoffs.
For the Opponent
Santorello scored both Knights' goals.
Woodard made 30 saves in the loss.
Notes
Hood improves to 14-8-2 (10-8-2), and Neumann falls to 6-18 (4-16).
The Blazers are still in the playoff hunt but face the tall task of needing a regulation win against the No. 1 seeded Wilkes in their final game.
Up Next
Hood wraps up the regular season at home against Wilkes University Friday, February 20 at 7 p.m.
