RYE, N.Y. – Senior Kyra Herbert (Plainfield, N.H./Lebanon) scored twice and freshman goaltender Rose Pijaca (Worcester, Mass./Worcester Academy) recorded her first career shutout as the Manhattanville College women’s ice hockey team defeated Neumann University Saturday in their final game before a month-long layoff.
The Valiants (3-4-0 overall) got out to a hot start with Herbert scoring her first goal of the night just 2:30 into the contest on an assist from sophomore Karly Kapur (Sparta, N.J./Sparta High School). Freshman Kat Reilly (Holbrook, N.Y./Boston Shamrocks (JWHL)) got in on the action late in the period, burying a goal on a shorthanded opportunity after forcing a turnover just in front of the Neumann net.
Manhattanville their 2-0 advantage into the first intermission despite being outshot 13-9 in the period by the Knights (1-7-1 overall).
The Valiants turned up the pressure in the second period, once again finding the back of the net early in the period. After drawing a penalty on the Knight’s Grace Klienbach, junior Taryn Harris (Morrison, Colo./Colorado Selects) sent a wrist shot past Neumann goaltender Julia Fair to give Manhattanville a 3-0 advantage. Herbert would strike again in the second, this time scoring on assists from Reilly and freshman Ellis Smith (Buffalo, N.Y./Nichols) who picked up her first career point on the goal.
Junior Kayley Romano (Viera, Fla./Boston Shamrocks) would put the game out of reach for good in the final period of play when she scored her first goal of the season on a rebound off of a shot from sophomore Kristi Peters (Newport Beach, CA/Corona del Mar).
Pijaca was impressive in goal on the day, 20 saves to pick up her first career win to compliment her first career shutout. With the performance, Pijaca improves her save percentage to .932 on the season, putting her in the top-30 nationally among Division III goaltenders.
Manhattanville will have plenty of time to prepare for their next matchup, not returning to the ice until 2016 when they travel to Vermont to participate in the Rutland Herald Invitational hosted by Castleton University. The Valiants will take on Holy Cross on January 2, and will play either Castleton or Colby the following day.
