ASTON, Pa. - The Wilkes University women's ice hockey team defeated the Neumann University Knights 7-0 Saturday afternoon at the Ice Works Rink thanks to a six-goal third period.

With the win the Colonels move to 11-1-1 (11-1-0) on the season, while the Knights fall to 5-11-0 (3-9-0).

The Colonels controlled the pace of the game from start to finish as they outshot Neumann 18-0 in the first period. However, Neumann goaltender Noelle Woodard saved all 18 shots as Wilkes was shutout going into the first intermission. 

Wilkes broke the scoreless tie early in the second period with an unassisted goal from Renee Ng (Hong Kong, China/Mount Academy) to make it 1-0, but that was all the team would get as Woodard continued to play well with another 12 saves in the second. 

That gave her 30 total saves going into the third period, while the Knights couldn't get anything going on the other end of the ice. Neumann managed just three shots in the period, and were 0-3 on the power play after 40 minutes of action.

In the third period, the Colonels erupted for six goals to turn a close game into a blowout. Haylee Bouchard (Sioux Lookout, ON/) started the frenzy with a power play goal just 20 seconds into the period, followed by an Abby Bush (Ottawa, ON) goal four minutes later to make it 3-0. 

Bouchard struck again with another goal midway through the third, then Nina Hudakova (Košice, Slovakia/Hoosac Prep School) made it 5-0 with her fourth goal of the series just a minute later. That made it 5-0 Wilkes with 8:35 remaining, forcing the Knights to pull Woodard from the game and replace her in net with Brook Adams. 

That didn't slow down the Colonels as Lily Zingaro (Collingwood, ON) and Ng each found the back of the net down the stretch to reach the final score of 7-0.

As a team, Wilkes outshot Neumann 63-5, went 2-5 on the power play, and won the faceoff battle 37-23. Bouchard (2) and Ng (2) led the team in goals, followed by Bush, Zingaro, and Hudakova with one each. Bouchard also tied Hannah Franz (North Bay, ON/) for the team lead in assists with two. 

In net, Emily Connell (Berwick, NS) made her first collegiate start and earned her first career win by making five saves. Woodard took the loss for Neumann with 39 saves and allowing five goals.

The Colonels continue their road trip on Friday, Jan. 23 with a weekend series against Alvernia. Puck drop is at 6 p.m.