Wilkes Women's Ice Hockey Sweeps Arcadia, Takes Top Spot in MAC
COLMAR, Pa. – The Wilkes women's ice hockey team completed the weekend sweep of Arcadia University Saturday afternoon with a 3-2 win at Hatfield Ice Arena, taking possession of first place in the MAC.
The Colonels improve to 10-4 on the year with an 8-2 record in conference play, while Arcadia fall to 10-3 on the year with an 8-2 record against conference opponents.
The hosts drew first blood late in the first period, converting a Colonel penalty to a power play goal off the stick of Carys Jelley.
Renee Ng (Hong Kong, China/Mount Academy) brought the Colonels level with a dazzling solo effort, weaving through three Arcadia defenders before rifling home the shot to light the lamp.
The hosts wouldn't go quietly, as Karahkwenhawe White restored their lead on another power play goal in the 14
th minute of the second period. Like the period before, the hosts held a one-score lead going into the break, up 2-1.
Wilkes unleashed their offense in the final frame, scoring two unanswered goals. First,
Iida Laitinen (Jyväskylä, Finland) punished Arcadia for turning the puck over with a solo effort at 7:38. Later in the period
Megan Bell (Waterloo, ON) scored the game-winning goal, a backhanded shot after going across the face of the goaltender after the pass from
Tilly Wierdsma (New Hartford, CT/).
With the win, the Colonels take a one-point lead over Arcadia atop the MAC standings on 25 points.
Laitinen, Bell, and
Haylee Bouchard (Sioux Lookout, ON) shared the team lead with five shots each, while Wierdsma had the lone Colonel assist and led the team in blocks with six. Laitinen also shared the team lead in faceoff wins with
Jordan Ferry (Bohemia, NY), as the duo won seven each. In goal,
Audrey Milne (London, ON) made 27 saves.
Phoebe Roberts led Arcadia with five shots, while Kianna Saillant led both teams with 11 faceoff wins. Campbell Torrey and Ariel Williamson each had one assist. In net, Sophia Szelag made 22 saves in defeat.
The Colonels return to the Toyota SportsPlex for their next contest, opening a weekend series against Neumann University on Friday, January 17 at 5:00 p.m.
