New England College women’s ice hockey struggled in their opening games of the season falling to #2 ranked Elmira College 8-0 on Saturday evening and dropping a 5-0 decision to Utica College on Sunday afternoon. With the two losses the Pilgrims open their season 0-2-0.
In Saturday’s match-up with the #2 ranked Soaring Eagles Elmira jumped out to an early 3-0 lead scoring three goals in the opening 12 minutes of regulation. The Pilgrims would hold the Eagles scoreless through the opening minutes of the second period but Elmira would take advantage of several power-play opportunities exploding for five goals in the second, including two power-play goals, going up 8-0 heading into the third period.
The Pilgrims defense would settle down in the third period holding the Eagles scoreless and to just nine shots on net but NEC would be unable to muster a goal falling 8-0. Leading the way for NEC were goalkeepers Teraysa White and Alexandra DiRico. White finished the game with 25 saves, while DiRico finished with nine saves.
In Sunday’s match-up with the Utica College Pioneers the two teams would battle through a scoreless opening period as Utica would hold the 18-4 advantage in shots on goal. The Pioneers would get scoring going early in the second period as they would net a power-play goal just 3:09 into the period taking the 1-0 lead. Utica would grab another score with just over eight minutes remaining in the second period sending them into the second intermission with the 2-0 lead.
The Pioneers would go on to score three goals in the third period, including a power-play goal just 2:11 into the period, building a 5-0 lead. The Pilgrims would continue to struggle on offense unable to net a goal as NEC’s Emily Tanguay would finish with four shots on net and first-year forward Taryn Moffat would record three shots on net for the Pilgrims
In goal for NEC was Teraysa White who finished the afternoon with 36 saves.
