FREDERICK, MD – Hilbert College Women's Hockey continued play in Maryland this morning with the team's second game against of the weekend against Hood College. For the second straight day, the Hawks fell one goal short against the Blazers, this time in overtime.

Brooke Kwiecien, Kaitlin Cowie, and Caitlin Conrad all recorded their first goals of the season in the 4-3 defeat that saw Hilbert strike twice in the third period to force overtime.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Despite 21 total shots and three Hilbert powerplays in the opening frame, the game remained scoreless after the first 20 minutes. Tia Card played a perfect period (8 saves on 8 shots) while Kelsey Fuller (4 shots), Kaitlin Cowie (3 shots), and Anna Faulkner (3 shots) did all they could to open the scoring for the Hawks.

The middle frame saw four total goals as the hosts would head to the third period with a 3-1 advantage. Six minutes after the teams re-entered the ice, Astrid Wilbur broke the ice to give the Blazers a 1-0 advantage.

However, less than two minutes later the Hawks would equalize on Kwiecien's first of the year. After Izabelle Wagner and Kwiecien worked to force a turnover in the offensive zone, Kwiecien made a move around her defender and roofed a backhand by the Blazers goalie to tie the game.

The goals were not done yet in the second period, as less than a minute later Hood once again took the lead. Hilbert looked to tie the game with a six-shot powerplay, but a successful penalty kill by the Blazers ignited a third goal for a 3-1 lead for the hosts heading into the third period.

The Hawks wasted no time cutting into the Hood College lead when the third period began, making it a 3-2 game under three minutes in. Kaitlin Cowie jammed the puck into the back of the net for her first of the year after Fuller worked the play to the crease for her first career assist.

Immediately after the goal, the Hawks were awarded a powerplay opportunity which they would capitalize on to knot the game at three with 16:51 to go. Anna Faulkner found Caitlin Conrad in the slot where she made no mistake and tied the game for Hilbert. Alexis Cunningham would collect her first career point with an assist on the goal.

Following the quick Hilbert goals, each goalie stood strong to send the game to an extra period. Card added nine more stops and another blank period to keep the Blazers at three goals.

Once the overtime period started, it did not take long for the Blazers to wrap this one up. After a Hilbert chance, Hood buried a breakaway in the top corner of the net for the 4-3 victory.
 
GAME NOTES

• Card had another good game between the pipes with 34 saves.
• Fuller and Cowie led the team in shots with eight and seven respectively.
• Cunningham and Megan Moceri each blocked a pair of shots.

 
UP NEXT

The Hawks return home next weekend for a weekend series against Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts at the Northtown Center. Saturday's home opener is scheduled to begin at 8:10 PM.