WILKES-BARRE – The No. 1 seed Wilkes University women's ice hockey team rolled past visiting No. 4 seed Alvernia University 5-2 in the semifinals of the inaugural Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Championship Tournament Saturday afternoon at the Toyota SportsPlex.
 
Wilkes continued its record-setting season improving to 21-4-1 overall while Alvernia ended its year with a 14-10-2 overall record.
 
After a scoreless first period, Wilkes took a commanding 3-0 lead in the second frame. Iida Laitinen (Jyväskylä, Finland) scored first for the Colonels 2:27 into the period when she found the back of the net off an assist from Tilly Wierdsma (New Hartford, CT/). Five minutes later Rachel Morey (Clearmont, WY) poked home a goal off helpers from Angelina Busts and Ainsley Wescott (Saco, ME/) to push the advantage to 2-0. Haylee Bouchard (Sioux Lookout, ON) made it a three-goal game 9:40 into the period scoring on the power-play off an assist from Megan Bell (Waterloo, ON/St. David Catholic).
 
Alvernia cut the Wilkes lead to two 4:46 into the third period, but the Colonels responded one minute later when Bouchard notched her second of the game thanks to a pass from Wierdsma.
 
Hannah Franz (North Bay, ON) added an unassisted goal with less than six minutes to play to seal the victory as Wilkes led 5-1. Alvernia added a late power-play tally, but it was not enough as the Colonels moved onto the title game with the home ice win.
 
Wilkes held a 47-26 shot advantage throughout controlling most of the game in its offensive zone. The Colonels also took 35-of-55 face offs with Jordan Ferry (Bohemia, NY) and Laitinen winning 20 of the 35.
 
Audrey Milne (London, ON) recorded the win in net for Wilkes finishing with 24 saves.
 
Wilkes will now await the winner of the other semifinal contest between the No. 2 seed Arcadia University and No. 3 seed Lebanon Valley College in the MAC Championship game scheduled for Saturday, March 8 at 3:30 p.m. at the Toyota SportsPlex.