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Saints women's hockey earns 4-1 win over Yale

Posted 11/2/13

The St. Lawrence University women's hockey team got goals from four different players, including the first collegiate goal from rookie Kirsten Padalis, as the Saints skated to a 4-1 ECAC Hockey …

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Saints women's hockey earns 4-1 win over Yale

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The St. Lawrence University women's hockey team got goals from four different players, including the first collegiate goal from rookie Kirsten Padalis, as the Saints skated to a 4-1 ECAC Hockey victory on Friday night over Yale University in Canton, NY.

St. Lawrence (3-6, 2-1) also had goals from Rylee Smith, Jessica Hon and Ellie Williams, while Carmen MacDonald made 24 saves to earn the win in goal. The Bulldogs (0-3, 0-1) cut the lead to 3-1 late in the third period on a tally by Kate Martini, but were unable to overcome a 40-25 disadvantage in shots on goal.

"We were happy to stay ahead of Yale throughout the game. We had good pressure and great chances that we couldn't get behind (Jaimie) Leonoff," said St. Lawrence head coach Chris Wells. "Yale, in turn, did a solid job in their transition game and had some nice quality bids. It was an exciting game where the score doesn't really reflect how close it was."

St. Lawrence finished 1-for-6 on the power play, with the one goal coming on the first try of the contest. Smith took a feed from fellow senior captain Dayle Wilkinson and ripped a low shot through traffic past Yale goalie Jaimie Leonoff at 5:55 of the first period. The power play tally was Smith's fourth goal of the season, and would be the only goal through the first two stanzas.

Yale had several chances to tie the score throughout the first and second periods, including three power play tries. Martini hit a post on a wrist shot that beat MacDonald, but the visitors simply couldn't crack the scoreboard. Meanwhile, the Saints also had numerous tries on Leonoff, including several odd-man rushes, but couldn't extend the lead.

Senior captain Mel Desrochers helped the Saints to a 2-0 lead early in the third period, as she ripped a shot from just outside the crease off of Leonoff. Though the goaltender made the initial save, Kayle Raniwsky tipped a pass out to the far post for Hon, who backhanded a shot into the goal for the insurance tally at 4:42 of the third.

After a St. Lawrence timeout later in the period, Yale pulled Leonoff for the extra attacker as the Bulldogs had several close calls in the home team's end. However, the goalie was sent back on as the Saints rushed out of their own zone. Padalis corralled the puck in the neutral zone and sent a shot towards net. Leonoff was caught in the high slot and dove to her knees to try to stop the puck, but it eluded her and slowly trickled across the goal line for a 3-0 lead with only 3:40 to play.

Martini would answer with 1:22 to go, as she spoiled MacDonald's shutout bid with her first of the season. Hanna Astrom set her up with a beautiful cross-ice pass, and Martini finished with a hard one-timer. Jamie Haddad also assisted on Yale's lone tally.

Leading 3-1, St. Lawrence would cap the game scoring with :21 seconds left, as junior Ellie Williams scored her first of the season on a rebound, with assists going to Dom Korakianitis and Margo Lund, as the Saints finished off the 4-1 win over the Bulldogs.

Leonoff made 36 stops for Yale but suffered the loss. MacDonald solidified the win with a nine-save performance in the third period. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs finished 0-for-4 on the power play.

The Saints will be in action again tomorrow afternoon as they host the Brown University Bears at Appleton Arena at 3:00pm.