Photo courtesy of Jack Lyons ’17
On the final home weekend of the year, the St. Lawrence women’s hockey team took a crucial three league points from Yale and Brown. Thee Saints also locked up the sixth seed in the ECAC playoffs setting up a date with Princeton at Hobey Baker Rink this weekend, The saints also honored their nine seniors.
Before any of this was decided, the Saints took to the ice against Yale on Friday just one point ahead of the Bulldogs in the ECAC standings. The teams traded goals through the first forty minutes, and in the third period and overtime, the teams’ goaltenders took over the game, resulting in a 2-2 tie.
With a playoff spot all but assured, SLU returned to action the next day against Brown on senior day, looking to definitively secure their spot in the tournament before sending their seniors off in their last game at Appleton.
The Saints received a goal per period from their underclasswomen to take the 3-0 victory. First year Justine Reyes netted the first two goals for the Saints, her first off a deflection and her second off a rebound from her own shot. Her second goal was assisted by senior Amanda Boulier, whose point brought her to 100 for her career.
Kennedy Marchment iced the win for the Saints in the third with a nice goal of a strong drive to the net down the right wing, and rookie Grace Harrison finished with 22 saves for the shutout, though senior Mikaela Thompson played the last 2:45 and made one save.
After the contest, the festivities began, and the Saints honored their nine seniors: Boulier, Thompson, Abbey McRae, Dominique Korakianitis, Kailee Heidersbach, Jenna Marks, Victoria Leimgardt, Megan Armstrong, and Sydney Bell.
In their four years, the seniors amassed 971 appearances, 116 goals and 312 points. Boulier was also a part of the 2012 ECAC tournament championship team, before redshirting her sophomore season with an injury.
Though their Appleton careers may be over, the seniors and the rest of their teammates still have games to be played. A first round tournament matchup with Princeton looms next weekend.
The Tigers swept the Saints in the regular season series, winning 3-2 at Appleton in November before claiming an overtime victory by a score of 4-3 just two weeks ago. Princeton finishes the year ranked eighth in the national polls with a record of 21-6-2.
Princeton has one of the best goaltenders in women’s college hockey, Kimberly Newell, who boasts a 1.6 GAA and a .943 save percentage. The Tigers have a lot of scoring depth as well, lead by rookie Karlie Lund, who had 37 points in 29 games.
Their blueline is patrolled by a dangerous set of offensive defenders led by Kelsey Koelzer, who had 30 points in 27 games, and Stephanie Sucharda, who posted 14 points in 29 games.
Overall, Princeton is a strong puck moving team with plenty of depth and one of the best goalies in the country. The Saints can match them blow for blow in terms of depth and defender mobility, so the matchup will likely come down to goaltending.
Chris Wells already confirmed after the game on Friday that, barring an injury, he will continue with Harrison as his starter. A strong performance from her will make this an even series. Puck drops at 3:00 p.m. on Friday in the first game in a best of three series.