HENNIKER, N.H. - The NEC women's ice hockey season kicked off on Friday night as the Pilgrims suffered a narrow 2-1 loss to Salem State University. Junior Jamie Blondin (Oakville, Ont.) found the back of the net to score the team's first goal of the season.
A first period power play goal by Olivia Tednes 11:17 into the game gave Salem State an early lead in the first game of the season for both teams. After matching each other with nine shots on goal in the first, the Pilgrims outshot the Vikings, 10-4, in the second period but failed to score as Salem brought a 1-0 lead into the third.
Directly off the opening faceoff of the third period, the Pilgrims worked the puck behind the Vikings net which immediately paid off as freshman Keira Marling (Georgetown, Ont.) found Blondin with some space in front of the goal. Blondin sent a quick, powerful strike past the Salem State goalkeeper to tie things up just 19 seconds into the final period.
Salem State came back with an answer as Mallory Albanese would capitalize on another power play opportunity, scoring the eventual game-winning goal less than three minutes after Blondin tied it. The Vikings would hold the Pilgrims scoreless for the final 16:57 to secure the win.
Junior Anna McGinty (Duxbury, Mass.) made 24 saves in net for the Pilgrims, posting a .923 save percentage in the team's season opener. Amy Thul made 26 stops with the one goal allowed for Salem State.
NEC had the edge on faceoffs, 32-23, carried largely by senior Alexis Hornsby (Atkinson, N.H.) who went 22-9. The game ultimately came down to power plays as Salem State went 2-for-4 while New England College went 0-for-5 on power play chances.
The Pilgrims will now travel to Gorham, Maine next Friday, November 6th, as the team begins their conference schedule against the University of Southern Maine at 4:00 PM.
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