Rae and Bonfe Score; Women's Ice Hockey Tripped up at St. Lawrence Wednesday
Links: Box Score
CANTON, N.Y. – Freshman Katelyn Rae (Courtice, Ontario) and freshman Jessica Bonfe (Woodbury, Minn.) would both score timely goals for their team, netting two scores in the second period to keep her team within striking distance, but it would not be enough as the Merrimack College women's ice hockey team fell at St. Lawrence Wednesday afternoon in their second game of 2016.
The Basics
Score: St. Lawrence 6, Merrimack 2
Records: Merrimack (3-18-0, 2-10-0 HEA) | St. Lawrence (10-9-1, 4-4-0 ECAC)
Location: Appleton Arena | Canton, N.Y.
How It Happened
The Warriors opened the game showing tenacity despite playing their second road game in 40 hours. They accumulated some early offensive zone time and were able to fire some shots in the opening minutes. St. Lawrence, who was playing its first game since the holiday break, seemed to find their legs as the period digressed and began control possession. Merrimack and freshman goaltender Samantha Ridgewell (Outlook, Saskatchewan) would fight off the initial attack, but the Saints would capitalize on a late penalty for the Warriors to take a 1-0 lead to the first intermission.
After a slow first period, both teams would combine to score six goals in an exciting second period, with five of those coming in the first 7:30 of the frame. St. Lawrence got the scoring started 30 seconds into the period, an added another just a minute later to extend their lead to 3-0.
Bonfe would put the Warriors on the board two minutes later, stuffing the puck home during scrum in front of the net, potting her third goal of the season to cut the deficit to 3-1. Another penalty for Merrimack two minutes after the goal would yet again be capitalized on by the Saints, retaking a three goal lead.
Merrimack would look to Rae to respond, as freshman Paige Voight (St. Michael, Minn.) found the Courtice, Ontario native streaking up ice for a breakaway opportunity. Rae would bury the chance with a shot glove side to cut the deficit to two.
Merrimack continued to battle knowing the next goal was vital to the game's outcome, but the Saints would again answer and stretch their lead to three with 3:24 to play in the middle period. St. Lawrence would take that 5-2 lead into the second intermission.
The Warriors showed plenty of fight early in the third as they tried to put together a comeback, but the Saints would fend off the pressure and apply an aggressive attack of their own despite their lead. St. Lawrence would net its sixth and final goal of the day halfway through the third, taking their largest lead of the day and one the Warriors were unable to bounce back from.
Inside The Numbers
- Rae's goal and assist improves her scoring line to 4-6-10, while Bonfe's score increases her tallies to 3-3-6 on the season.
- Voight has now registered a point in four straight games, tallying five points in that span (2g, 3a). Her assist Wednesday improves her line to 8-8-16, all of which lead her team.
- St. Lawrence outshot the Warriors 26-15 in the game, as well as taking the faceoff margin 28-19. The Warriors were 0-3 on the power play, while the Saints were 2-3.
Up Next
The Warriors return to North Andover to prepare for a big home-and-home series with Connecticut this weekend as they look to pick up some vital Hockey East points. Puck drop on the first game at Lawler is set for 2:00 p.m. Saturday.
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