Women's Hockey | 11/2/2018 9:53:00 PM

Box Score REISTERSTOWN, MD. — The Manhattanville College women's hockey team got off to a strong start to the 2018-19 season, as they defeated United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) and Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) opponent Stevenson University by a score of 6-2 Friday, Nov. 2 at Reisterstown Sportsplex.

The Valiants got off to a slow start, falling behind 1-0 and 2-1, but then exploded for five unanswered goals the rest of the way. Sophomore forward Tianna Lopes (West Vancouver, British Columbia/Pacific Steelers (JWHL)) got the scoring started for Manhattanville on the power play in the first, taking a perfect cross-ice pass from junior Janet Xu (Edmonton, Alta./Ontario Hockey Academy) and putting it past Stevenson goaltender Caitie Darosa to tie the game at one, with junior defender Zoey Pellowitz (Arlington, Va./Washington Pride (JWHL)) picking up an assist on the play as well.

Following the tying goal, Manhattanville would take a pair of penalties in an 11-second span and was faced with a prolonged 5-on-3 situation, but goaltender Rose Pijaca (Worcester, Mass./Worcester Academy) and the rest of the squad were up to the tough task, keeping the Mustangs off the board throughout the two-man advantage.

Following a goal by Nikki Kendrick to give the Mustangs a 2-1 lead, the Valiants would again answer on the man advantage. Xu put a shot on goal that was initially stopped, but junior forward Amanda Sabia (Freehold, N.J./The Gunnery) was able to grab the rebound and put it in the back of the net to even the score, with Xu and Pellowitz providing the assists. Then in the final minutes of the second, Xu would give the Valiants the lead on yet another power play goal, with Lopes and Pellowitz recording assists on the play.

In the third, Manhattanville would put the game out of reach. Sabia came through on the power play for the second time, putting home a rebound to stretch the Valiant lead to 4-2 coming off assists from Pellowitz and Xu once again. The Valiants then took take a pair of penalties to put themselves down two skaters, and were able to not only kill it off again but add a goal of their own. Pellowitz first made a defensive play in her own zone on the 5-on-3, then took the puck down and fired a shot from the left faceoff circle that beat Darosa glove-side to extend the lead to 5-2.

Then in the final minutes of the game, Sabia was able to pick up the hat-trick goal just as a Mustang penalty had ended, again going to the front of the net and putting in a rebound to put the Valiants up 6-2, with Pellowitz and Xu picking up the assists.

Four Valiants had multi-point nights, as Lopes had one goal and one assist, Sabia scored three goals, Xu had one goal and four assists, and Pellowitz scored one goal and added five assists.

Pijaca picked up the victory for the Valiants, making 26 saves on the night and standing tall in the two 5-on-3 sutiations.

Faceoffs and special teams were key for Manhattanville throughout the game. The team won over 54 percent of their faceoffs, and the power play went 4-for-5 on the evening. The penalty killing was strong, as Manhattanville successfully killed off eight of 10 Mustang power plays.

The Valiants will look to make it two in a row against the Mustangs, as the two teams face off again Saturday with puck drop scheduled for 7:00 p.m.