KEENE, N.H. – Despite being outshot 15-2 in the opening period, the intermission adjustments by the coaching staff of the Keene State College women's ice hockey team proved to pay off as Emerson Spinale scored her first career goal for the game-winner to give the Owls a 2-1 win over the University of Massachusetts-Boston on Saturday night.

Records

• Keene State: 4-2 (2-2 LEC)
• UMass-Boston: 3-1 (2-1 LEC)

How it Happened


The Beacons' attack was working early in the contest as they recorded three shots on target over the opening 1:07 of the contest, but the reigning Little East Conference Goaltender of the Week, Ai Chung, saved all three shots to open the game. Over the next ten minutes, Chung had to make another five saves for the Owls, but her defense helped with three blocked shots over the timespan. With 4:38 remaining in the first, the Beacons had a power play opportunity, but did not capitalize on it as Chung made four saves, and Emma McNeil blocked a shot on defense over the two-minute advantage to kill it off. The Owls' two lone shots on goal in the opening period came a minute a part late in the period but did not amount to anything as the teams headed into the second tied at 0-0.
 
Despite the Beacons coming out of the gates hot to start the second period, Chung made five saves in the first minute, but just 1:39 into the second, the Owls were the team to strike first. Ellie Patrick cut off a pass in the Beacons' defensive zone and rifled a shot into the back of the net to put KSC ahead 1-0 on the Owls' third shot on goal of the day. 2:57 into the second period, the Beacons had their second power play opportunity, but with a blocked shot from Caroline Demeo and a pair of saves from Chung, it did not amount to anything for UMB. A minute after killing off their last penalty, the Owls had their third penalty of the contest, but with another blocked shot on defense and three more saves from Chung, KSC once again killed off a penalty for the third time on the day thus far. KSC tried to tack on another goal eight minutes into the second with five more shots on goal over a two-minute span, but Veronika Hadamovsky saved all five of the shots from the Owls. With 8:31 remaining in the second, UMB tied the game up at one apiece as Cassidy Morrison scored her third goal of the season for the Beacons. Over the next 8:30 the Owls attack tried to retake the lead, but Hadamovsky made five more saves to keep KSC off the board the rest of the period. On the opposite side of the ice, Chung made three more saves for the Owls to keep the score tied at one apiece heading into the final 20 minutes of regulation.
 
KSC started the third period on the power play after a penalty against the Beacons in the end of the second period, but it did not amount to anything as the only shot from the Owls over the opening two minutes of the third period was from Brianna Finke that rang off the pipe. Shortly after Chung made three more saves, the Owls had another power play, but they did not capitalize on the extra skater again as KSC could not record a shot on goal over the two-minute advantage. With 11:54 remaining on the clock, the Owls' captain, Ava Iantosca, applied the pressure on the attack, causing the Beacons to force a turnover behind their goal. Iantosca's steal sent a pass to Emerson Spinale in front of UMB's goal where she fired home the shot to put the Owls ahead on her first career collegiate goal. Over the next 10 minutes the Beacons applied the pressure during the 5-on-5 play, but four saves by Chung and five shots blocked by the Owls' defense, including a pair from Mallory Stuart, kept UMB off the board as the clock started to tick to under two minutes remaining. In the final 1:35 the Beacons pulled their goaltender the rest of the way, but the Owls' defense held strong, and Chung made her 39th save of the day in the closing seconds to give KSC the 2-1 victory.
 
Inside the Crease

• Chung made 39 saves on the day, while Hadamovsky made 14 for UMB.
• UMB had the advantage on faceoffs, as KSC went 23-for-53 (43.4%), and Emily Hansen went 15-for-24 (62.5%) for the Beacons.
• The Owls' defense continued to help their goaltenders by blocking shots from the opposition as KSC blocked 17 shots in the win with McNeil and Patrick blocking four apiece and Stuart finishing with three blocks.
• Neither team capitalized on any power play opportunities on the day as KSC went 0-2 and UMB went 0-3.
• Iantosca's assist ties her for the team-high off six points from a pair of goals and four assists, while Patrick's goal was her second of the season to go with her three assists for five points on the year.

 
Up Next
 
Keene State has a week between games as their next contest will be on the road at Vermont State University Castleton on Saturday, November 22, at 3:00 PM.
UMass-Boston plays next at Castleton, as well, but the day before the Owls as UMB travels to take on the Spartans on Friday, November 21, at 6:00 PM.