RYE, N.Y. – It will be a Pioneer-Valiant doubleheader on Saturday, as the Manhattanville College women's hockey team joined the men's team in securing a berth in the UCHC Semifinals as the No. 3 Valiants defeated No. 6 Arcadia on Wednesday, 4-1. The Valiants advance to the semis where they will square off the No. 2 Utica on Saturday.
Taylor Ham (Saugerties, N.Y./Millbrook School) got the party started inside the Playland Ice Casino, opening up the scoring 11:58 into the contest. The senior forward notched her seventh goal of the year following a pass from
Gabrielle Cox (Niverville, NY/Ichabod Crane High School) to give the home crowd a reason to cheer in the first.
The Knights, who had picked up their first win in program history earlier this season against Manhattanville, would find the equalizer at 16:22.
Virginia Birnie (Ontario, Canada/Rosethay Netherwood School) was charged with a two minute minor for interference at 15:53 into the period. The Knights would score on their first shot with the advantage, as Karahkwenhawe White was able to fire one past Valiant netminder
Franny Gerardi (Yonkers, N.Y./Selects Academy) to tie the game back at 1-1.
Manhattanville was able to bounce back quickly, as 49 seconds later Cox scored on an unassisted goal to put the home team back ahead. From there, the Valiants dominated in puck possession. The Knights faced the 2-1 deficit entering the second period, but Manhattanville made it a nightmare for Arcadia to get any sustained pressure going, allowing just four shots in the period. Cox would score her second of the night 14:37 into the second stanza off an assist from
Grace Genest (Wake Forest, N.C./The Gunnery (Conn.)).
Trailing 3-1 to open up the third, Arcadia was in desperate need of a goal to get back into the contest as time was of the essence. The Valiants continued to swarm Knights puckhandlers, as Arcadia logged only eight shots on net in the final 20 minutes.
Grace Felicio (Holden, Mass./Wachusett Regional) put a bow on the night with an empty netter at 17:48, firmly putting the game away.
A game removed after setting the single-season saves record, Gerardi added to her total on the year with 24 total stops. The junior goalkeeper has made 564 saves on the season and heads to Utica with a 2.27 goals-against average on the year.
The Valiants penalty kill unit rose to the occasion, killing off four of the five Arcadia skater advantages. Manhattanville themselves were 0-for-1 on the power play, logging one shot on their opportunity. The Valiants were dominant on the faceoffs to the tune of a 44-20 margin, with
Morgan Miller (St. Augustine, Fla./Gilmour Academy),
Grace Felicio (Holden, Mass./Wachusett Regional) and
Annie Niedermier (Alberta, Canada/Athol Murray College of Notre Dame) each winning 12 or more draws.
The women's hockey team will play in the front end of Saturday's Manhattanville-Utica semifinal doubleheader. Puck drop is scheduled for 2 p.m.
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