MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Suffolk women's hockey fell in a three-goal hole it never climbed out of as it completed the home-and-home series with Wesleyan on the wrong side of a 3-1 decision Sunday night at Spurrier-Snyder Rink.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 1 | Wesleyan 3
RECORDS: Suffolk (2-7-2) | Wesleyan (3-2-0)
HOW IT HAPPENED
All three of the Cardinals goals came in the first 20 minutes, over a six-minutes span to be exact.
The first tally came with 7;24 expired after Maggie Curran stole the puck in transition. Curran sent a pass to Sophia Marra at the top of the left face-off circle, before Marra found the back of the goal. Wesleyan extended the advantage 1:29 later when Allie Damren's initial shot was denied by Julia McLellan, but Audrey McMahon was there to one-time the rebound for the 2-0 lead.
The Cardinals made it a three-goal game at the 13:34 minute mark whne Curran rifled a shot from just inside the blue line.
Suffolk had a chance ot cut the deficit with 2:21 remaining in the first period, but Jesse Kenendy's bid from the doorstop was thwarted by Allegra Grant.
Out of the first intermission, the Rams had another chance to get on the board. This time Grant's glove denied Grace Scholz's shot as the power play ended.
The Rams continued to pressure in the offensive zone, taking a flurry of shots during the 16th minute of the middle period. An initial shot by Madison Duff sent Grant sprawling, but she was able to use her leg pads to deny back-to-back chances after that.
Suffolk found its way on the board 3:48 into the third period. Meagan MacNeil's attempt was stopped by Grant, but Kennedy was on the right pipe to tip in the rebound and rob Grant of the shutout.
The Rams pulled McLellan from the pipes with 1:30 remaining in the hopes of climbing back, but all five shots taken in the finale minute were turned aside by Grant and the 3-1 margin stayed in the Cardinals' favor.
NETMINDER NOTES
- McLellan stopped 26 shots over 58:30.
- Grant made 30 saves in the victory.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Kennedy scored Suffolk's lone goal with MacNeil recording the only assist.
- Suffolk edged out Wesleyan in shots, 30-26, while the Cardinals won the face-off battle, 34-33.
NOTEWORHTY
- Kennedy scored her first goal of the season.
- MacNeil recorded her first point in a Suffolk sweater.
POST-GAME PIC
WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk turns its attention back to NEHC action when it opens a four-game homestand Friday, Dec. 6 against No. 3 Norwich. Puck drop between the Rams and Cadets is set for 7:45 p.m.