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New England College

Jamie Blondin
Photo: Frank Poulin
Jamie Blondin
1
Mass. Liberal Arts MASS. LI 0-1-0
2
Winner New England Col. NEW ENGL 1-0-0
Mass. Liberal Arts MASS. LI
0-1-0
1
Final
2
New England Col. NEW ENGL
1-0-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 OT 1 F
Mass. Liberal Arts MASS. LI 1 0 0 0 1
New England Col. NEW ENGL 1 0 0 1 2

Game Recap: Women's Ice Hockey |

Blondin’s Overtime Game-Winner Pushes Pilgrims Past MCLA in Season Opener

HENNIKER, N.H. - The New England College women's ice hockey team secured a 2-1 win over the Blazers of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) in dramatic fashion on opening day 

The Pilgrims' first goal of the season came 8:09 into the game as senior Meadow Gilchrist (Stamford, Conn.), who led the team with 11 goals last season, found the back of the net off an assist from senior Kate Devlin (Walpole, Mass.). 

MCLA found an answer three minutes later on a goal by Brooklyn Ekblad to tie the game up at 1-1 with nine minutes left in the first quarter, a score that would hold up for the entirety of regulation.  

NEC put 22 shots on goal in the second period and 17 more in the third. But MCLA goaltender Kaitlyn O'Brien turned them all away as part of a 54-save performance to send the season opener for both teams to overtime. 

From the opening faceoff of the extra period, the Pilgrims controlled the puck and dominated the time of possession. They put two shots on goal in the first minute, but both were saved by O'Brien. After winning a faceoff with around four minutes left to play, junior Samantha Babbitt (Weathersfield, Vt.) shook a defender and found sophomore Jamie Blondin (Oakville, Ont.) who spun around her defender and sent a strike past O'Brien for the game-winner. 

Blondin's overtime goal gave the Pilgrims a 1-0 start to the new season in rather dramatic fashion. The goal granted sophomore Anna McGinty (Duxbury, Mass.) her first win in goal in her Pilgrims debut. She made 22 saves while conceding just one goal – good for a .957 save percentage.  

NEC had the advantage on faceoffs, winning 33 to MCLA's 25. The Pilgrims had a sizable edge in shots on goal, putting 56 on target to the Blazers' 23. As a result, the Blazers had 18 blocked shots to the Pilgrims' 10, though freshman Grace Orr (Epsom, N.H.) tied the game-high with four. 

The team has a quick turnaround as they host Worcester State tomorrow on day two of the 2025-26 season, welcoming the Lancers into town for a 2:00 PM puck drop.  

For continuing coverage of New England College Athletics, visit athletics.nec.edu and follow the Pilgrims on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 

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