RYE, N.Y. -- The Manhattanville College women's hockey team battled to a tough win against Saint Anselm College, Saturday, Dec. 7, at home in the Playland Ice Casino. Junior forward Tianna Lopes (West Vancouver, British Columbia/Pacific Steelers (JWHL)) tallied the game winner late in the third period to secure the game for the Valiants.
Manhattanville (6-3-1, 5-0 UCHC) fell behind early in the contest after Saint Anselm (10-4, 8-3 NEWHA) found the back of the net midway through the first period of play. The Hawks were able to control play for most of the period and outshot the Valiants 17-13 during the first 20 minutes. Saint Anselm carried their 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
The Crimson and White came out swinging in the second period. They scored two power play goals to gain a 2-1 advantage over the Hawks. The first goal was scored by junior forward Taylor Ham (Saugerties, N.Y./Millbrook School) who stole the puck from the defense and fired the puck into the top right corner. The second goal came just two minutes after the first. Junior forward Ashley Defusco tucked the puck into the top shelf on a goal assisted by senior forward Amanda Sabia (Freehold, N.J./The Gunnery) and Lopes. The Hawks continued to hang around and with 28 seconds left in the second they tied things up at two goals apiece.
The third period was hard fought. Both teams went back and forth trying to find the game-winning goal. The Valiants were outshot 10-3 in the third, but the exceptional play of freshman goalie Lena Flores (Chicago, Ill./Guerin College Prep) kept the team in the game. Then with just four minutes left on the game clock, Lopes found the back of the net by using a quick move to get past the Saint Anselm goalie. The Hawks continued to battle and with 1:30 left they pulled their goalie. Despite their efforts they come up short and Manhattanville earned the 3-2 victory.
The game was highlighted by Lopes, who recorded a goal and an assist, and Flores, who made 34 saves on 36 shots. Flores earned her second win of the season and Lopes currently leads the Valiants in points with 16.
The team has a few weeks off as winter break approaches. The Valiants will return to the ice on Tuesday, Jan. 2, against Williams College in Brunswick, Maine.
