Four Colonels Notch Their First Collegiate Goals as Wilkes Women's Hockey Defeats M.C.L.A 6-0
 
WILKES-BARRE – It was a game of firsts for the Wilkes women's ice hockey team as four first-year skaters scored their first collegiate goals and goaltender Emma Swansburg (Shelburne, NS/Shelburne Regional) recorded her first career shutout en route to a 6-0 win over the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts on Friday night at the Toyota SportsPlex.
 
The home opening win started the Colonels season on the right foot, putting them at 1-0 on the campaign. M.C.L.A. fell to 0-1 in their first season of operation.
 
After killing off a Trailblazer power play, the Colonels opened the scoring when a long distance shot from Rissa Brazeau (Timmins, ON) trickled through the M.C.L.A. goaltender and found its way to the back of the net. Anneke Bouma (Newcastle, ON/) and Bella Kaczorowski (Anchorage, AK/) picked up helpers on Brazeau's first goal in the Blue and Gold to make it a 1-0 contest at 14:14.
 
Just over four minutes later, Wilkes doubled their lead after Rachel Morey (Buffalo, WY/) danced past four defenders and fired a wrist shot under the arm of Juliette Barney at 18:18. Julie Patterson (Trenton, NJ/) was credited with the assist on the captain's first of the season.
 
After 20 minutes, the Colonels held a 2-0 lead over M.C.L.A.
 
Haylee Bouchard (Sioux Lookout, ON) was sent to the penalty box for a tripping minor, setting up the Trailblazers with an opportunity to find the scoresheet. Swansburg stood tall, however, turning aside two shots to preserve the shutout and keep M.C.L.A. off the board.
 
Elizabeth Spoon (Arlington, TX/) notched her first of the season at 16:36 into the second period when she pounced on a loose puck immediately after a faceoff and wristed a shot past Barney to boost the Colonel's lead to 3-0 with under four minutes remaining in the period.
 
Wilkes would carry that lead into the second intermission.
 
Tilly Wierdsma (New Hartford, CT) would open the scoring in the third with her first college goal just 1:27 into the third period after picking up a pass from Bouchard, who recorded an assist on the play. Her efforts increased the Colonels' lead to four goals.
 
Another first year would find the back of the net at 3:54, as Milica Velcek (Novi Sad, Serbia) picked up her first collegiate marker to give Wilkes a 5-0 lead. Bella Kaczorowski (Anchorage, AK/) was credited with an assist on the goal.
 
The Colonels went on the power play midway through the third, allowing one more first year to find the scoresheet. Amanda Spreadbury (Suwanee, GA) lit the lamp at 12:35 with Bouchard and Morey collecting assists on the play.
 
Wilkes' defense protected the lead for the remainder of the game to preserve the lead. After 60 minutes, the Colonels picked up their first victory of the season 6-0.
 
Kaczorowski, Morey and Bouchard all shared the team lead with two points each. Spreadbury fired 13 shots towards goal, followed closely by Jordan Ferry (Bohemia, NY) who had 10. Swansburg turned away all nine shots she saw in her first career shutout.
 
Mallory Stuart led the way for the Trailblazers with three shots. Abby Davis, Alexandrea Bednar and Carlen Bertrand followed with two apiece. Barney made 46 saves on the evening.
 
The Colonels return to the ice for the second half of a two-game home series against  M.C.L.A. on Saturday, October 28. Puck drop is set for 3:30 p.m.