RYE, N.Y. – A goal in each period coupled with a second-straight shutout performance by
Franny Gerardi (Yonkers, N.Y./Selects Academy) led the Manhattanville College women's hockey team in a series-opening victory over Alvernia on Friday. The 3-0 win is the Valiants' fourth-straight, improving their record to 7-9-2 overall and 7-4-2 in the UCHC. The winning streak has the Valiants up to fifth in the conference standings with 25 total points, leapfrogging past the Golden Wolvers with the win.
Gerardi turned away all 25 shots she faced in the contest as the graduate netminder has been locked in as of late. She has allowed just one goal across her last three games while making 85 saves in that stretch, dropping her goals-against average of the season to 2.38 while her save percentage has climbed up to .931, the highest it has been since November.
The Valiant tender was supported by some stellar special teams play by the Manhattanville penalty kill unit. Going shorthanded nine times in the contest is usually a recipe for disaster, but the Valiants were able to pick up their teammates that were sent to the penalty box by killing off all nine Golden Wolves power plays.
Lulu LePage (Swansea, Mass./Elmira College) scored the only goal of the first and what proved to be the eventual game-winner at 8:22. The junior ripped a slap shot just atop the faceoff circle past Julia Beaven for her third goal of the season, with assists credited to
Virginia Birnie (Ontario, Canada/Rosethay Netherwood School) and
Taylor Willoughby (Camrose, Alberta, Canada/John Maland).
Manhattanville wasted little time extending the lead in the second, scoring 19 seconds into the period.
Grace Felicio (Holden, Mass./Wachusett Regional) won the opening faceoff as the Valiants played the puck into the offensive zone. Alvernia defenders would collected the loose puck but an attempt to dump it out of the zone was intercepted by Felicio. The senior passed to
Catrina Chinetti (Hyde Park, Mass./Boston Latin Academy) who in turn made a backhand pass to the stick of
Charlotte Stanwood (West Vancouver, B.C./Penticton Secondary) driving towards the net. Stanwood had no issue tipping it in to the wide open net for her third goal of the season and second in her last three games.
With Gerardi and the penalty kill sufficiently shutting down the Golden Wolves' chances, the Valiants put the game on ice with an empty netter in the closing minute of the third from
Virginia Birnie (Ontario, Canada/Rosethay Netherwood School), assisted by
Gabrielle Cox (Niverville, NY/Ichabod Crane High School) and
Danika Aubin (Guy, Alberta/Northern Alberta Xtreme (CSSHL)).
Felicio and
Annie Niedermier (Calgary, Alberta, Canada/Athol Murray College of Notre Dame) led the Valiants on the faceoff effort for the night with seven draw victories each. In total, the Golden Wolves held a 35-25 faceoff advantage.
Gerardi stopped seven shots in each of the first two periods before making a game-high 11 in the third to successfully put an end to four Alvernia power plays.
The Valiants were also unable to convert with the extra skater as Manhattanville finished 0-for-4 on their power play opportunities.
Up Next
The teams return to the ice tomorrow at 1 p.m. to wrap up the series.
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