HARRISVILLE, R.I. – In a historic night in Suffolk Athletics history, a two-goal effort from Haley Poloskey would not be enough as the first-ever Suffolk women's hockey game ended in a 5-2 setback to Nichols Friday evening at Levy Rink.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 2, Nichols 5
RECORDS: Suffolk (0-1-0) | Nichols (1-0-0)
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bison wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as Kelly Ferreira scored just 1:06 into the action.
In a season that will be filled with firsts for the Rams, the first Suffolk score came 10 minutes later. Poloskey hung out in front of Nichols net and put away a feed from Shana Cote to level the playing field at 1-all at the 11:32 minute mark in the first frame.
Nichols took advantage of a powerplay in the second stanza as Mel McAleer regained the edge for the hosts with an unassisted scored. With Suffolk on the man-up advantage, it was the Bison who lit the lamp once again as McKennz Gernander put away a short-handed score to add to Nichols advantage, 3-1, just 20 seconds before the horn sounded for the second intermission.
Suffolk found itself in a three-goal hole early in the third period as McAleer scored her second powerplay goal of the game. Poloskey responded and cut the deficit in half seven minutes later with a set-up by Jesse Kennedy, but it would not be enough as Ferreira scored an insurance goal at the with 2:48 remaining to seal the 5-2 setback for the Rams.
NETMINDERS NOTEABLES
- Kristen Caporusso stopped 27 saves in net for Suffolk.
- Cassandra Goyette turned aside 32 saves for the victory for the Bison.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Poloskey scored both of Suffolk's goals with Cote and Kennedy dishing out helpers.
- Suffolk out shot Nichols, 34-32.
- The Rams dominated the face-off dot, wining 52 of the 79 draws (.658).
NOTEWORTHY
- Suffolk women's hockey made its program debut.
- Poloskey's name will go down in the history books as the freshman's first collegiate goal will go down as the Rams' first-ever score.
POST-GAME PIC
COMING UP
Suffolk completes the home-and-home series with the Bison tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 27 when the Rams host Nichols in the program's first-ever home game. Prior to the 5:20 p.m. puck drop at Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink Suffolk Athletics will host a ceremonial puck drop.