CASTLETON, Vt. – Sophomore Olivia Drew (York, Maine/Portland Jr. Pirates) made 43 saves and freshman Jordan Roetzer (Buffalo, N.Y./Niagara Junior Purple Eagles) scored twice but it was not enough as the Manhattanville College women’s ice hockey team fell in their opening matchup of the Rutland Herald Invitational 4-3 to Holy Cross.
With the loss, the Valiants (3-5 overall) will face Colby College (2-5-2 overall), who was defeated in a shootout by host Castleton University (10-1-2 overall) earlier Saturday.
The Valiants and Crusaders (10-2 overall) battled in the first period, with Holy Cross jumping out to a lead with seven minutes remaining in the period when Erin Hall beat Drew for the game’s opening score. The Valiants would answer just over a minute later however, when sophomore Sarah Sinning (Southold, NY/National Sports Academy) scored on the power play to even the score. The two teams would trade goals late in the period and would enter the first intermission 2-2.
Drew was impressive in the second period, turning away a multitude of shots from the Crusaders in the period. Despite her 18 saves in the period, Holy Cross was able to find the back of the net with just over a minute remaining in the period on a power play goal from Lauren Abbenante. The Crusaders would hold onto that lead and lead 3-2 heading into the final period.
The Valiants put together their best attack in the final period, recording 14 shots on goal, but fell behind by two goals when the Crusaders tacked on a security goal with just under two minutes remaining in the game. The Valiants would tack on a goal late, when Roetzer scored her second goal of the game, but it was not enough as the Valiants fell in their opening game of the invitational.
Manhattanville will look to bounce back in the consolation round tomorrow when they take on Colby at 12:00 P.M.
