BOSTON – Sydney Tietz sniped the game-winning shot at the midway point of the third period to lift Suffolk women's hockey to a 2-1 victory over UMass Boston Saturday afternoon at the Edward T. Barry Rink.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 2 | UMass Boston 1
RECORDS: Suffolk (2-3-1, 2-1-1 NEHC) | UMass Boston (1-4-1, 0-4-0 NEHC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Neither side was able to score in a back-and-forth first period. The Beacons led 14-11 in shots and had several great breakaway chances, but Kristen Caporusso was able to deny Mia Sacco and Jane Ann Drill.
UMass Boston opened the scoring on their first power play chance of the second stanza. After having a goal waived off on a crease violation early in the man advantage, Hannah MacDougall tipped home Cailey Kozich's shot from the far circle to give the Beacons a 1-0 lead at 4:36 of the middle period.
Suffolk took the win out of the Beacons sails with a goal with five seconds left before the second intermission. Shana Cote received a pass from Stephanie Moy and skated into the zone on a partial breakaway, before beating Caty Flagg just inside the far post.
The Rams came out firing to start the final frame, only to have the Beacons find their legs and even the matchup.
Tietz shocked the entire crowd with her goal at 9:46. The sophomore skated past the red line with two Beacons defenseman in front of her, crossed the blue line and teed up a hard, line-drive shot that was still rising when it went in.
UMass Boston upped their pressure in the final five minutes, as it searched for an equalizer.
Kelsey Ryan forced a pad save and the rebound bounced out to a wide-open Katie Leffler, but the puck bounced over her stick as she tried to score in the empty-net.
The Beacons forced two more saves from Caprousso in the final 20 seconds with Kozich and Erica Lunn both having their shots stopped.
NETMINDER NOTES
- Caporusso had 33 saves in the victory.
- Flagg stopped 19 shots in the setback.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Cote and Tietz were responsible for Suffolk's scores.
- Moy, Payton Dockus and Emily Johnson each dished out one assist.
- UMass Boston outshot the Rams, 34-21.
- The blue-and-gold won the face-off battle, 33-14.
NOTEWORTHY
- Suffolk improved to 2-1-1 versus the Beacons all-time.
- The Rams defeated the Beacons on UMass' home ice for the first time in program history.
- Tietz produced her second career game-winner, first of the season.
POST-GAME PIC
COMING UP
Suffolk steps out of NEHC play Friday, Nov. 22 when it entertains Nichols at Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Memorial Rink at 7:45 p.m.