Box Score Box Score

RYE, N.Y. – Junior Lauren Nutkevitch (Montreal, Quebec/Dawson College) played a role in all three Valiant scores and sophomore Mary Evans (Ferndale, Mich./Honeybaked (TOEHL)) made 18 saves for her second career shutout as the Manhattanville women's hockey team took down Neumann by a score of 3-0 in a non-conference meeting on Tuesday night at Playland Ice Casino.

Nutkevitch tied her career high with three points, scoring once and assisting on the two other Manhattanville goals on the night. Juniors Katie Little (Victoria, British Columbia/Team British Columbia) and Lynsey Schill (Waterloo, Ontario/Kitchener Rangers (PWHL)) also scored for the home team, while classmate Mary Rose Morrison (Ridgefield, Conn./Connecticut Stars (MFYHL)) had a pair of assists as well in the win.

Manhattanville wasted no time putting their first tally on the board, as Little scored her second game-winning goal of the season 41 seconds into the first period. Nutkevitch took the initial shot in transition, but did not get a good stick on the puck. Little was there and found the back of the net to give the Valiants the 1-0 lead.

“I fanned on the shot and I saw the goalie going for the poke check so I just got my stick on it and Little put it in,” said Nutkevitch.

Schill netted the team's second goal seven minutes later to give them a two-goal edge. Nutkevitch once again was credited with the assist as she took the original shot, while Morrison was also credited with the assist. Schill was in front of the net in a scramble and put in her third goal of the season.

Manhattanville headed into the locker room with the 2-0 lead. While the Valiants only outshot the Knights by two in the first period, Manhattanville controlled the puck in their offensive zone for the majority of the period.

“Getting on the board early set the pace of the game,” explained Little. “Going into intermission with a two-goal lead gave us the confidence needed to bring home the victory.”

Building off that lead in the second period, Manhattanville continued to put the pressure on offensively and Neumann came out slow to start the frame.

“It is always in our game plan to put pucks on net,” said first-year head coach David Turco.

“Rebounds were there for us all game,” explained Morrison. “We continued to crash the net and look for rebounds.”

The third goal came late in the second period as Nutkevitch cashed in on her first of the season. The defender took a shot from the blue line, which hit the top right corner of the net over the shoulder of Neumann netminder Shannon Donnelly. Morrison and classmate Kelly Keane (Longmeadow, Mass./New England Falcons (EJHL)) were each credited with the assist, with Keane winning the puck in the corner and sending it back to the blue line for the shot.

Yet again the Valiants only outshot the Knights by three in the middle frame. Neumann's defense blocked 13 of Manhattanville's shots throughout the game, only giving the home team eight opportunities in each of first two periods.

The third period remained scoreless as Manhattanville outshot their opponent by three yet again.

Evans made 18 saves in net for the Valiants picking up her first shutout of the year, moving her to 2-1 on the season. Donnelly made 23 saves in net for the Knights as Manhattanville outshot Neumann, 25-18.

“It was nice to get the win going into the long weekend,” Nutkevitch said. “It was also great to get Mary the shutout since we missed it on Saturday.”

Manhattanville (3-4-0) will travel to Plymouth, N.H., on December 2 as the team takes on Plymouth State in an ECAC East Conference matchup beginning at 6 p.m. Neumann (1-4-2) will return to ECAC West Conference action as the team travels to Oswego on December 2.