KEENE, N.H., – Entering the contest on fire, averaging 1.67 points per game over the past six games, including a hat trick in the most recent game,
Ava Iantosca played hero in the Keene State College women's ice hockey team by netting the game-winner with 25 seconds remaining to give KSC a 2-1 win over Anna Maria College.
Records
- Keene State: 13-7
- Anna Maria: 5-11-1
Postgame Interview (Coach Morgan)...coming soon
Postgame Interview (Ava Iantosca)...coming soon
How It Happened
The first period went by extremely fast, with very few stoppages and KSC winning four of the six faceoffs. Across the first period,
Ai Chung, the Owls' goaltender, made 10 saves in goal. The KSC defense also helped, as they tallied five blocked shots, as well, to help Chung out. Chung's seven saves in the final six minutes of the period, including one with two seconds on the clock, held the game scoreless heading into the second period.
Megan Tegethoff, the Amcats' goaltender, made a pair of saves in goal to open the second, before AMC went on the power play for the first time in the game, 4:48 into the period. Chung saved the only two shots that she faced on the penalty kill, as the Owls returned to even-strength. Over the previous four games, the Owls have notched a goal in either the ninth or tenth minute of the second period in three of the past four games.
Emma McNeil continued the streak for the Owls in the game, as she scored a goal, 10:50 into the period.
Caroline Demeo sent a pass from the blue line over to
Grace Bazin down by the near faceoff circle, who sent a pass across the crease that McNeil flipped a shot past Tegethoff to put KSC up by one. The Owls locked down the Amcats the rest of the period, as Chung continued to make saves, with six, and the Owl defense blocked three shots, as
Maddie DeSouza,
Molly Price, and Bazin all blocked a shot, sending KSC into the third period up 1-0.
Paige Henault continued to stay on fire on faceoffs for KSC, as she won the opening faceoff of the third period, after winning the first faceoff in each the first and second periods. Both goaltenders opened the third with three saves apiece over the first six minutes of the period. KSC was called for their second penalty of the contest, 8:25 into the third, and the Amcats capitalized 27 seconds later. Tessa Henry sent a shot from just inside the blue line on goal, and with Chung screened in front of the net, she was unable to get a good read on the shot as it found the back of the net to tie the game up at one apiece with 11:08 remaining in regulation. A few minutes later, Iantosca had a breakaway opportunity and was yanked down, as the refs blew the whistle for tripping shortly after, giving KSC their chance to get even with a power play goal for themselves. The Owls peppered Tegethoff in net over the two-minute advantage, but she held strong, saving all six shots that she faced as the clock reached 6:27 left in regulation. Tegethoff continued to make saves in goal, as she made five more over the next five minutes as the game looked like it would head to overtime. Chung made a save in net for KSC with 1:08 remaining, and shortly after Iantosca won the ensuing faceoff, she netted the game-winner.
Rory Owens sent a shot from the blue line that was slightly off target, but just as she has all season, Iantosca deflected the shot, finding the back of the net, to put the Owls back up by a goal with just 25 seconds left on the clock. With their goalie pulled, the Amcats went on the attack in the closing seconds of the contest, but Iantosca blocked a pair of shots and Chung made a save at the horn to secure the Owls 2-1 victory over the Amcats.
Inside the Crease
- Chung recorded 26 saves in net in her first game back, after playing for Taiwan at the University games in Italy.
- Iantosca's goal is her 12th of the season, the most on the team, bringing her season totals to 12 goals and six assists for 18 points, which is the second most points on the team.
- KSC continued to do well with staying out of the box for the most part, as they only recorded two penalties in the victory.
- The Owls had one of their best days on faceoffs in program history on the day, going 24-for-32 (75%). Henault torched the Amcats on every draw, going a perfect 11-for-11 and not losing a single attempt on the day. Iantosca also did great on faceoffs, going 8-for-12 (66.7%) for KSC.
- KSC's defense helped Chung in net, with 14 blocked shots, with Demeo and Bazin leading the way, with DeSouza tallying a pair, and Iantosca recording two, too, to go with her success on the attack and on faceoffs in the win.
Up Next
Both teams will play next at Anna Maria in less than 24 hours, as they face off on Saturday, January 25, at 7:20 PM, as KSC looks for the weekend sweep.
