Nashua, NH – The New England College women's ice hockey team dropped their first game of the season against the Raiders of Rivier University on Friday at Conway Arena in Nashua, NH.
THE BASICS
Score:                    New England College 2, Rivier University 3
Records:               Pilgrims 0-1-0, 0-0-0 NEHC| Raiders 1-0-0, 0-0-0 ECHA
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Things were defensively competitive in the early going then NEC found a way to get themselves on the board just under 10 minutes at 9:06 with the goal credited to sophomore forward Meadow Gilchrist (Stamford, Conn.) obtaining the first on the season. The Raiders wasted no time getting back into the game scoring the next two goals contributed by freshman forward Rebecca McKelvey (Barre, Vt.) and sophomore forward Brianna Rumptz (Troy, Mich) that gave Rivier the lead going into the second period.
• The second period gave the Pilgrims a chance to compose themselves and get back into the game by finding the back of the net in the first 2:27 of play earned by freshman forward Alexis Hornsby (Atkinson, N.H.) assisted by sophomore defender Gabrielle Iwinski (Batavia, Ill.) and freshman forward Samantha Babbitt (Woodstock, Vt.). From that point on the defense did their part allowing no goals to be scored for the entirety of the second period.
• In the third period is where NEC's tripping penaltycalled on them at 11:46 allowed for the Raiders to take advantage of the power played to shortly after score at 12:05 by sophomore defender Molly Dukesherer (Richland, Mich.) from junior forward Paige Anger (Nashua, N.H.). After that point within the game the Pilgrims were unable to find an answer with the time remaining, concluding in a win for the Raiders on the evening.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• NEC Gilchrist and Hornsby scored for the Pilgrims. An assist was credited to both Iwinski and Babbitt respectively.
• RU McKelvey, Dukesherer, and Rumptz each scored for the Raiders while Anger had an assist.
• NEC sophomore goaltender Amy Donnelly (Taunton, Mass) gathered 15 saves in goal.
• RU junior goaltender Rachel Symmes (Chugiak, Alaska) finished with an astonishing 50 saves.
• NEC managed to fire off 52 shots to RU's 18 taken.  

UP NEXT

• NEC is back on the ice when they come home to play Rivier University Saturday at 1:00 PM from Lee Clement Arena.
• RU plays their next game at New England College on Saturday at 1:00 PM.

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