RYE, N.Y. – Sophomore
Ashley Lougheed (Vancouver, B.C./Pacific Steelers) and junior
Nicole Mensi (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Northwood School) scored shorthanded goals 24 seconds apart late in the 3
rd period and the Manhattanville College women's hockey team rallied for a 2-1 victory over Chatham University Saturday afternoon.
The win, paired with Utica's loss to Elmira, moved the Valiants into sole possession of fourth place in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference.
A day removed from a 7-2 victory over the Cougars, Manhattanville (7-5-1, 4-2-0 UCHC) was shut out for more than 54 minutes by Chatham (3-10-2, 0-8-0 UCHC) goalie Devon Strachan.
The Cougars grabbed a 1-0 lead at 19:49 of the first period when Marissa Janiga knocked home the rebound of Kristina Block's shot after Block was denied by Manhatanville junior goalie
Rose Pijaca (Worcester, Mass./Worcester Academy). The Valiants held 12-5 and 20-14 shot advantages after the first and second periods, respectively, but were unable to get anything by Strachan.
After a Manhattanville penalty at 14:00 of the final period, Mensi and senior
Sarah Sinning (Southold, N.Y./National Sports Academy), the team's two leading scorers, combined to tie the game. Sinning blocked a shot by Chatam's Emma MacFarlane, then, after carrying it into the zone, found Mensi, who threw a wrist shot at Strachan positioned slightly out of the crease. The shot defected into the air and landed behind Strachan over the goal line at 14:29 for Mensi's team-high 11
th goal of the season.
Just moments after the ensuing faceoff, junior
Morgan Wilm (West Chester, Pa./Millbrook School), from the far-side boards, delivered a pinpoint pass to the area just outside the crease near-side for Lougheed, who tipped the puck past a split-legged Strachan. The Cougars took three shots following Lougheed's goal, but Pijaca, who finished with 18 saves, kept them all out to preserve the win.
Manhattanville is back in action Tuesday at 7:30 in a non-conference road game against Trinity; the team returns to Playland the following night for a 7:00 puck drop against Williams.
