BOSTON, MASS. – The Manhattanville College women's hockey team continued its hot start to the 2018-19 season this weekend. The squad picked up a pair of victories Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 24-25, and secured the 12th annual Codfish Bowl title, hosted by the University of Massachusetts-Boston. Following their
4-0 shutout win over Bowdoin College Saturday, the Valiants defeated Wesleyan College 2-1 in the championship game Sunday.
Sophomore forward
Amanda Sabia (Freehold, N.J./The Gunnery) finished the weekend with four points (two goals, two assists), went 29-of-47 in the faceoff circle and was selected as the Codfish Bowl's Most Valuable Player. Manhattanville (5-0-1) remains unbeaten following its win over the Cardinals (2-1).
The Valiants dominated play from the moment the puck dropped, as they outshot Wesleyan 19-3 in the first period. Despite the overwhelming offensive display, the score remained 0-0. The second period was much more even, with the Cardinals outshooting Manhattanville 10-8. Despite the Valiants exhaustive edge in overall shots, Wesleyan was able to take the game's first lead at 12:23 into the second period. The Cardinals took that lead into the intermission.
The third shifted back to the Valiants' favor as the squad owned a 10-6 shots on goal advantage. They accomplished much with that, scoring the game-tying and game-winning goals in the final period. Codfish Bowl MVP Sabia got on the board first for Manhattanville, with the assist coming from junior defender
Zoey Pellowitz (Arlington, Va./Washington Pride (JWHL)) just under four minutes into the period. Then, with 7:30 remaining, sophomore forward
Tianna Lopes (West Vancouver, British Columbia/Pacific Steelers (JWHL)) notched the game-winner from senior captain
Nicole Mensi (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Northwood School). A day after making 25 saves for her first shutout of the season, senior goalie
Rose Pijaca (Worcester, Mass./Worcester Academy) made 18 saves for the 2-1 victory.
Sabia now leads the Valiants in both points (13) and goals (8) this season, while Pellowitz leads the team in assists (8) and is second in points (11).
Manhattanville returns to action next weekend, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 30-Dec. 1, for a pair of games in Annville, Pa., against United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) and Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) foe Lebanon Valley College.
