ASTON, Pa. - Sophomore netminder Rose Pijaca (Worcester, Mass./Worcester Academy) made 23 saves to record her fourth career shutout and help the Manhattanville College women's ice hockey team push their current win streak to five games with a 5-0 victory over Neumann College Tuesday afternoon.
Manhattanville (6-1-0) outshot the Knights (3-6-0) 42-23 on the afternoon, pushing across five goals against Neumann goaltender Helen Cooney. Sophomore forward Kat Reilly (Holbrook, N.Y./Boston Shamrocks (JWHL)) scored twice on the afternoon, and fellow classmate Nicole Mensi (Mamaroneck, N.Y./SUNY Plattsburgh) and juniors Melissa Stys (Pequannock, N.J./The Kent School) and Jennifer Machin (Brunswick, Maine/North Yarmouth Academy) each found the back of the net once in the win.
The Valiants showed their quick-strike ability once again Tuesday, scoring two goals in 59 seconds early on in the first period to take a commanding lead in the contest. Machin found the back of the net at the 2:55 mark unassisted and Mensi followed it up with the game's second goal, her sixth of the season and fourth consecutive game with a goal.
Just three minutes later Reilly notched her first goal of the game, putting Manhattanville up 3-0 early in the opening frame. After taking that score into the first intermission, Reilly struck again on the power play midway through the second period to give the Valiants a four-goal cushion.
In the final stanza Stys put the game away for good at the 2:40 mark of the period, burying a pass from freshman Janet Xu (Edmonton, Alberta/Ontario Hockey Academy) for the game's 5-0 final mark. Â
The Valiant special teams unit was impressive once again, killing off all five Knight power play opportunities while converting one of six opportunities on the offensive end. Â
With the 5-0 victory, the Valiants now rank seventh among Division III teams in scoring offense, averaging over four goals per game for the season. Â
The Valiants have a lengthy break before their next contest, squaring off against Stevenson University 11 days from now on December 3rd at Playland Ice Casino. Puck drop for that contest is scheduled for 3:00 pm.