Box Score HENNIKER, N.H. - Junior forward Sydney Asselstine (Hartington, Ontario/Nepean Wildcats (PWHL)) picked up two goals and an assist as the Manhattanville women's hockey team defeated New England College by a final score of 3-1 in an ECAC East Conference contest on Saturday afternooon. Junior goaltender Kirsten Shaughnessy (Le Center, Minn./LeSueur-Henderson St. Peter) had another solid day in between the pipes, turning away 24 of 25 shots.

All of the scoring on the afternoon occurred in the first period. Just five minutes into the period, junior forward Michele Meggiolaro (Whippany, N.J./New Jersey Colonials (MAWHA)), finding Asselstine in front of the net, slid a puck into the low slot which Asselstine put home for a 1-0 lead. Less than two minutes later Asselstine got back on the score sheet, this time facilitating on Trenah Stauffer (Salmon, Idaho/Colorado Select (JWHL))'s power-play goal.

But Asselstine was not done there. At the 12:50 mark of the first period, the junior forward and classmate Rachael Morrison (Ridgefield, Conn./Sound Shore Warriors (MAWHL)) broke out on a 2-on-1 shorthanded opportunity that Asselstine buried in the back of the net, giving the Valiants a commanding 3-0 lead.

Pilgrims' sophomore forward Kellie McLean put the home team on the board at the 15:28 mark of the first period as she received a pass from freshman forward Alexis Severance and fired a shot from inside the left hashmarks to beat Shaughnessy, cutting the deficit to 3-1.

The final 44 minutes would pass with neither team scoring another goal, although the teams combined for a total of 52 shots over that time.

The Valiants' win today, coupled with a Southern Maine loss and a Salve Regina win, now has a three-way tie for fifth place in the ECAC East Standings with 12 points. The push for the playoffs continues on Friday afternoon as the Valiants will be home to take on second-place Saint Anselm at the Terry Conners Ice Rink beginning at 3:30 p.m.