Jan. 4, 2008

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BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (January 4, 2008) - New England College's Sarah Tracey put the game-winner past Sacred Heart goalie Jessica Little (Fishers, IN) with just five seconds left in the third period to lift the Pilgrims to a 5-4 win over the Pioneers at the Wonderland of Ice Friday night. The Pioneers tied the game 4-4 with a shorthanded goal by junior Gina Arnone (Bridgewater, NJ) with 3:40 left but couldn't hold on to force overtime.

The Pilgrims (4-2-1) struck first as Shauna Pires knocked in the NEC's first good opportunity of the game 2:46 into play. The Pioneers answered with a power play goal at 7:57 as freshman Carla Pentimone (Chicago, IL) buried a rebound in front.

The second period saw both teams scored twice with New England College striking first just under two minutes in on a Stefanie Lewis from Jamie Collins tally. The Pioneers answered with a pair of scores and jumped in front 3-2 with less than three minutes left in the session. Arnone picked up her first of two goals off a feed from senior Katelin McLaughlin (Hingham, MA) less then a minute after the NEC strike.

SHU (4-9-1) took their only lead of the night at the 17:24 mark as freshman Lauren Fontaine (Windsor, Ontario) connected on the Pioneer's second power play goal of the night, redirecting a feed from senior Devon Gaslin (Augusta, ME). Sacred Heart struggled again to hold the Pilgrims in check as Emily Kutcha picked up an errant puck and fired one past Little, unassisted, just 1:30 later to send the game into the third period tied at 3-3.

New England College put together major offensive pressure in the third stanza, out shooting SHU 19-6. The Pilgrims caught a break at the 13:59 mark when Sacred Heart's Taryn Lapierre (Burrillville, RI) was called for a five minute major for clipping. NEC capitalized, scoring on the power play opportunity less the five minutes to go as Rachel White converted another Collins feed.

It looked like the Pilgrims would escape with a 4-3 win but Arnone kept pressing and was rewarded, picking up a loose puck in the NEC zone and skating in for an unassisted, short handed tally at 16:20 to knot it up at 4-4. With the game looking locked for extra time, the Pilgrims put together one last rush and Elizabeth Ross left the puck for Tracey who picked her spot and fired pas Little with just five ticks left for the 5-4 win.

The Pioneers finished just two-of-eight on the power play and were out shot 36-30 in the game after out shooting NEC over the first two periods. Little made 31 saves in goal taking the loss.

The two teams will meet again tomorrow afternoon at the Wonderland of Ice. The puck will drop at 2:00 pm.

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