FREDERICK, Md. – Needing a win in regulation against No. 15 Wilkes University to earn a berth in the Middle Atlantic Conference Championships, the Hood College women's ice hockey team could not complete a third-period comeback, falling 3-2 to finish the season.
Inside the Box Score
Sofie Ancona (Grosse Point Farms, Mi./Saint Clair Shores Saints) and
Renata Petrella (Cranberry Township, Pa./Nashville Jr. Predators U19) both scored for the Blazers.
Dakota Ormiston (Scituate, Ma./Portsmouth Abbey) assisted on Hood's second goal.
Maggie Grijalva (Fullerton, Ca./Anaheim Lady Ducks AAA) made 43 saves in the loss.
How it Happened
Facing the top team in the conference did not seem to affect the Blazers or leading goal scorer Ancona, who stripped away an errant pass and sped around a defender to rifle a shot into the top right corner of the goal just 43 seconds in.
Wilkes gathered itself and began trying to claw the game back, putting up shot after shot and keeping Hood on its heels, but Grijalva and the Blazer defense did not give. Despite mostly staying on defense, Hood was still able to generate good chances, with Ormiston and Petrella each getting a good shot on goal and forcing saves.
Despite controlling the pace of play for a majority of the period, the Colonels seemingly could not find the back of the net. However, after continuous pressure on the defense, they were eventually able to create enough of an opening in a sea of white jerseys to get one past Grijalva and tie the game with just over five minutes to play in the first period. The Blazers were able to create several good chances before the buzzer but would have to settle for just solid momentum heading into the first intermission.
That momentum would not last long to start the second period when Hood was whistled for an interference penalty, and although Wilkes did not score during the power play, a mistimed line change gave the Colonels a 3-on-0 that they were able to convert to jump ahead 2-1 less than three minutes into the period.
Falling behind so quickly lit a spark in the Blazers though, and the home squad was able to apply offensive pressure of their own for the next several minutes. That pressure caused Wilkes to take a tripping penalty and give Hood its first power play of the game, and Petrella used a well-placed screen from
Olivia Sharkoski (Bradenton, Fl./Nashville Jr. Predators U19) to rip a shot past the right pad of goalie Audrey Milne to tie things up.
Although the Colonels put up significantly more shots than the Blazers over the next several minutes after the goal, Grijalva continued to stand strong as she tried to will her team to another goal. An errant pass in the neutral zone led to the speedy Wilkes offense scoring a second goal in the period though, and Hood again found themselves down a goal at 3-2 as the team went to the locker room to prepare for the third period.
Heading into the final frame, it looked like the Colonels would be able to show why they are the top team in the conference, but Grijalva kept the Blazers' deficit to just one despite the onslaught. Unfortunately, Hood was unable to generate enough offense to tie the game, and with Grijalva forced to stay in goal until less than a minute to play, both the comeback and a playoff berth would be put on ice as the buzzer sounded to end the Blazers' season.
For the Opponent
Haylee Bouchard had two goals and an assist on the night.
Polina Telehina scored a goal.
Analysis
Wilkes outshot Hood 46-26.
The Blazers went 1-2 on their power play opportunities, while the Colonels failed to score on their only advantage of the game.
Wilkes had a 26-23 edge in the faceoff circle.
Notes
The Blazers finish their sophomore season 14-9-2 (10-9-2), while the Colonels head into the postseason with a 22-1-1 (20-1) record.
Up Next
Hood will return for the 2026-27 season.
