Stonehill College’s women’s hockey team lost 5–2 to Franklin Pierce University at Warrior Ice Arena on Saturday. With this result, Stonehill’s overall record stands at 13–15–2, including a 13–9–2 mark in the conference. Franklin Pierce improved to 16–10–2 overall and holds a 15–7–2 record in league play.
Despite the loss, Stonehill outshot Franklin Pierce by a margin of 43 to 26 and led in faceoffs won, finishing with a 34 to 24 advantage. First-year player Bella Sacca scored her first collegiate goal for the Skyhawks. Sophomore Reagan Whynot added her eighth goal of the season with less than one second remaining in regulation.
Senior Brianna Walkom registered her sixth assist of the year, while first-year Summer Combe earned her third. Senior Lucie Turcotte led Stonehill defensively with two blocked shots. Fellow senior Maddi Achtyl contributed by winning a team-high eleven faceoffs. In goal, sophomore Alexsa Caron made 21 saves.
The game began with strong offensive pressure from Stonehill, who generated several scoring chances but were held scoreless after the first period due to solid goaltending by Jill Hertl of Franklin Pierce.
Franklin Pierce took control early in the second period, scoring three goals within twelve minutes—Caleigh Murphy opened the scoring at 5:18 before McKenzie Rich and Sydnee Wilson each netted their first goals of the season at 10:05 and 11:17 respectively.
After a media timeout and an offensive-zone faceoff at 12:20 in the second period, Walkom won possession back to Sacca who scored from the blue line through traffic for her milestone goal. This cut Stonehill’s deficit heading into intermission.
Franklin Pierce extended its lead early in the third period with two more goals at 5:05 and again at 5:44, establishing a four-goal cushion that held despite Whynot’s late tally for Stonehill as time expired.
Stonehill will travel next weekend for a two-game series against Post University in Shelton, Connecticut; their opening match is scheduled for Friday at 7:45 p.m.
