Week 3 of the 2020-21 NCAA Women’s Hockey season has come and gone. As we have learned through the previous weeks, the schedule is a moving target as programs and conferences deal with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The good news? There is still plenty of hockey to talk about!
Hockey East
Friday, December 4th
Boston College 5 @ UConn 3
Holy Cross 0 @ Providence 2
Boston University 2 @ UNH 1
BC rebounded nicely from a tough weekend against Providence. The Eagles got two goals from Kelly Browne and Natalie Tulchinsky, while Hannah Bilka chipped in with her second of the season. Savannah Bouzide scored a pair for UConn, but it wasn’t enough against a high-powered Boston College group.
Sandra Abstreiter improved to 4-0-1 on the season thanks to her 16 save shutout over Holy Cross. Annelise Rice and Hunter Barnett lit the lamp for the Friars, who outshot the Crusaders by a 31-16 margin and continued their hot start to the 2020-21 season.
Lastly, Boston University finally got on the ice as they visited UNH. Jesse Compher and Julia Nearis each scored for the Terriers, who got 18 saves from Croinne Schroeder in their season opening victory.
Saturday, December 5th
UConn 1 @ Boston College 3
Providence 4 @ Holy Cross 1
Boston University 3 @ UNH 4
Boston College was shorthanded, but completed the sweep on Saturday afternoon. Olivia Finocchiaro, Savannah Norcross and Kelly Browne all lit the lamp in the victory, while Maddy McArthur made 35 saves in the win. UConn actually outshot Boston College 36-29, including 15-9 in the 3rd period, but it mattered not on this night.
UNH rebound nicely, scoring a 4-3 victory over BU. The Terriers jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Clare O’Leary (18:35) and Compher (19:18) in the first period. The Wildcats’ offense exploded in the middle frame to completely turn the tide.
Tamara Thierus scored at 1:53 and 8:32 to even things up, while Jada Christian gave the Wildcats a lead at 17:10. BU did get even 6:43 into the third period thanks to Nearis’ second of the weekend, but Lauren Martin scored the game winner at 7:15 to earn the split for UNH.
WCHA
Friday, December 4th
St. Cloud State 0 @ Minnesota-Duluth 4
Minnesota State @ Bemidji State POSTPONED
Wisconsin @ Minnesota POSTPONED
The hockey world missed out on quite a series as Wisconsin and Minnesota were unable to play their scheduled games on Friday and Saturday. Minnesota State and Bemidji State suffered the same fate, and their series was wiped out. That left St. Cloud State and Minnesota-Duluth as the only show in town.
Duluth rolled on Friday night, shutting out St. Cloud State in dominating fashion. Duluth held a 38-11 edge in shots, with Emma Soderberg pitching the shutout. Anna Klein opened the scoring just 8:16 into the game, while Naomi Rogge (2) and Clara Van Wieren added the insurance markers. Duluth improved to 3-2-0 with the victory.
Wisconsin announced this morning on their website that they will also be postponing their upcoming two series, and will not play again during the first half of the WCHA season. In the end, the Badgers were only able to play two of eight games.
Saturday, December 5th
St. Cloud State 1 @ Minnesota-Duluth 5
Minnesota State @ Bemidji State POSTPONED
Wisconsin @ Minnesota POSTPONED
Another day, another dominating win for Minnesota-Duluth. This time, the Bulldogs outshot St. Cloud by a 55-21 margin, and scored four times in the second period to cement the victory. Gabbie Hughes, Anna Klein, Naomi Rogge, Clara Van Wieren (2) and Jenniina Nylund lit the lamp for the Bulldogs, while Soderberg made nine saves in 40 minutes of action for the win. Jojo Chobak played the third period, and made eleven saves on 12 shots.
Emma Polusny made 50 saves in the loss.
ECAC
Thursday, December 3rd
Clarkson 2 @ Colgate 3
We had a rare Thursday game in the ECAC this past week. Clarkson and Colgate met for the third time this season after splitting a series last weekend. Colgate took the rubber-match, getting goals from Taylor Kirwan, Nemo Neubauerova and Danielle Serdachny. Elizabeth Giguere and Brooke McQuigge found the back of the net in the loss for Clarkson.
Saturday, December 5th
Colgate 2 @ Clarkson 2 (OT)
Round 4 of this ECAC rivalry ended up being a tie. Kalty Kaltounkova scored at 6:02 of the third period to give Colgate a 2-1 lead and what looked like a third victory over Clarkson, but Nicole Gosling scored unassisted at 19:49 to force overtime. OT didn’t settle anything, and the sides ended up with a draw. Through four games, Colgate holds a 2-1-1 advantage.
CHA
Thursday, December 3rd
Lindenwood 2 @ Robert Morris 4
Robert Morris opened their season on Thursday night, and took care of business against Lindenwood. The 0-2-0 Lions couldn’t handle RMU’s offensive attack. Maggy Burbidge opened the scoring at 7:12 of the first period, while Emily Curlett added an insurance marker at 10:10 to put the Colonials up by a pair. Lindenwood tied things up early in the third period, as Hannah Alt and Sierra Burt scored at 57 seconds and 4:29 of the third period respectively, but their comeback bid would fall short.
The Lions nearly forced overtime, but Ellie Marcovsky scored at 17:00 minutes to put RMU up for good. Wasyn Rice added an empty net goal to give the Colonials an opening night victory.
Friday, December 4th
Lindenwood 0 @ Robert Morris 4
RMU’s offense was in peak form again on Friday afternoon, helping the Colonials complete the opening weekend sweep. Lexi Templeman scored 12:20 into the game to give RMU a lead they would not lose. Kyleigh Hanzlik, Anjelica Diffendal and Michaela Boyle all added insurance markers in the win.
Saturday, December 5th
Syracuse 1 @Penn State 2
RIT @ Mercyhurst POSTPONED
RIT and Mercyhurst were set to play a home-and-home on Saturday and Sunday, but the games were postponed. The sides are now scheduled to play at 3:00 pm on Thursday in Rochester.
Penn State scored a comeback victory on Saturday to improve to 3-0-0. Victoria Klimek opened the scoring for the Orange 8:22 into the hockey game, but PSU tied things up at 17:44 on Olivia Wallin’s tally. Kiara Zanon scored with eight seconds left in the second period to give Penn State a lead, and that goal stood as the game winner. Josie Bothun made 21 saves to collect her third victory of the season.
Sunday, December 6th
Syracuse 2 @ Penn State 2 (OT)
Mercyhurst @ RIT POSTPONED
Klimek added two more goals for Syracuse on Sunday, giving her three on the weekend. It still wasn’t enough for a win, however. Carrie Byrnes scored 8:33 into the third period, then Amy Dobson added a marker 2:10 later to tie the game and eventually force overtime.
Overtime decided nothing, and the sides skated to a 2-2 tie that pushed Penn State to 3-0-1 on the season. Syracuse returns to New York with a 1-3-1 record on the season.
