BUFFALO, N.Y. - After sustaining a 4-0 loss to Buffalo State on Friday night, the New England College women's ice hockey team narrowly fell in the rematch on Saturday, 4-3.
The Bengals outshot the Pilgrims, 17-1, in the first, but failed to find the back of the net in a scoreless opening period. Freshman Molly Jones (Golden, Colo.) scored the first goal of her collegiate career to kick off the scoring midway through the second period, capitalizing on a power-play chance off assists from freshman Pnina Basov (Ma'alot, Israel) and sophomore Jamie Blondin (Oakville, Ont.). Less than two minutes later, Buffalo State tied the game up at 1-1 on a goal from Keegan Scott.
Six minutes into the third period, Basov netted her second goal of the season, giving the 'Grims a 2-1 advantage. The go-ahead goal was assisted by freshman Keira Gallacher (Okotoks, Alta.) and sophomore Cordelia Hauck (Hugo, Minn.). Once again, Buffalo State had an answer as Sydney Radecki scored just 41 seconds later. 27 seconds after Radecki scored the equalizer, Amerie Delormier gave the Bengals a 3-2 lead.
With 9:40 left in the game, this time it was the Pilgrims who tied the game on a goal from Blondin who was assisted by team point-leader, senior Meadow Gilchrist (Stamford, Conn.), to set the stage for a 3-3 game. The tie did not last long, as the Bengals, who had answered all game long, regained the lead just 16 seconds later as Dakota Carlson put the hosts on top, 4-3. That score would remain through the final horn as Buffalo State escaped with the two-win weekend.
In net, sophomore Anna McGinty (Duxbury, Mass.) made 47 saves with a .922 save percentage. Opposite McGinty, Amelia Knott made 10 saves for the Bengals as they outshot the Pilgrims, 51-13. Buffalo State went 0-for-4 on power plays while the Pilgrims went 1-for-2.
The 'Grims play their next two games on the road as they head to Gorham, Maine for back-to-back conference matchups against the University of Southern Maine on January 9th and 10th.
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