AMHERST, NY – Hilbert Women's Hockey faced off against Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts tonight for the third time this season, and for the third time, the Hawks came up just short in a tightly contested battle with the Trailblazers. Both teams sent a flurry of pucks on net in this one, but it was the visiting Trailblazers who found the back of the net four times to the Hawks' one to secure the 4-1 win.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

MCLA got out to a quick start in the contest, scoring inside the first minute to grab an early 1-0 advantage. Despite a good response for Hilbert, and five straight shots on the Trailblazer net, the second goal of the game would also belong to MCLA. A quick-strike breakaway goal doubled the lead twelve minutes into the opening frame. The Trailblazers would add another before the end of the opening twenty to head into the locker room up three goals to none.

Hilbert came out of the locker room determined to get back into this one, throwing pucks at the Trailblazer net all period. The Hawks ripped off 15 shots on goal in the middle frame, including a sequence of seven straight shots. However, MCLA goalie, Juliette Barney, was equal to the task and kept Hilbert off the score sheet after two periods. Tia Card was equally as impressive between the pipes for Hilbert in the frame, stopping all 17 shots sent her way to keep her team in it.

Hilbert continued to press in the third period, while also getting key stops from Card. Immediately following a successful penalty kill, the Hawks fired off ten consecutive shots on Barney. This time they wore the Trailblazer goalie down as a Megan Moceri point shot found the back of the net to make it a two-goal game. Anna Faulkner won the draw to Abby Dawson who set up Moceri's first collegiate goal off a nice faceoff play.

However, a response by MCLA less than two minutes later would put the game away and secure the 4-1 road victory for the Trailblazers.

GAME NOTES

• Card made 41 stops in goal.
• Abby Dawson recorded a team-high seven shots on net, while Faulkner, Moceri, and Kaitlin Cowie each had five.
• Big games in the faceoff circle from Brooke Kwiecien and Anna Faulkner led to the Hawks winning 55% of draws in the contest.
• Hilbert's penalty kill was a perfect 3-3 in the game, with Card making nine stops while playing 4 on 5.

UP NEXT

The Hawks are back at the Northtown Center next Friday to begin a weekend doubleheader with Anna Maria College. The puck is set to drop at 8 PM.