ASTON, Pa. – Sophomore netminder Rose Pijaca (Worcester, Mass./Worcester Academy) made 23 saves to record her fourth career shutout and help the Manhattanville College women’s ice hockey team push their current win streak to five games with a 5-0 victory over Neumann College Tuesday afternoon.
Manhattanville (6-1-0) outshot the Knights (3-6-0) 42-23 on the afternoon, pushing across five goals against Neumann goaltender Helen Cooney. Sophomore forward Kat Reilly (Holbrook, N.Y./Boston Shamrocks (JWHL)) scored twice on the afternoon, and fellow classmate Nicole Mensi (Mamaroneck, N.Y./SUNY Plattsburgh) and juniors Melissa Stys (Pequannock, N.J./The Kent School) and Jennifer Machin (Brunswick, Maine/North Yarmouth Academy) each found the back of the net once in the win.
The Valiants showed their quick-strike ability once again Tuesday, scoring two goals in 59 seconds early on in the first period to take a commanding lead in the contest. Machin found the back of the net at the 2:55 mark unassisted and Mensi followed it up with the game’s second goal, her sixth of the season and fourth consecutive game with a goal.
Just three minutes later Reilly notched her first goal of the game, putting Manhattanville up 3-0 early in the opening frame. After taking that score into the first intermission, Reilly struck again on the power play midway through the second period to give the Valiants a four-goal cushion.
In the final stanza Stys put the game away for good at the 2:40 mark of the period, burying a pass from freshman Janet Xu (Edmonton, Alberta/Ontario Hockey Academy) for the game’s 5-0 final mark.
The Valiant special teams unit was impressive once again, killing off all five Knight power play opportunities while converting one of six opportunities on the offensive end.
With the 5-0 victory, the Valiants now rank seventh among Division III teams in scoring offense, averaging over four goals per game for the season.
The Valiants have a lengthy break before their next contest, squaring off against Stevenson University 11 days from now on December 3rd at Playland Ice Casino. Puck drop for that contest is scheduled for 3:00 pm.
