SHELTON, Conn. – In a game that started off fast before both sides settled in, it was also a game in which Post University Women's Ice Hockey had the chance to make program history by beating Saint Anselm College for the first time ever in the head-to-head on Saturday afternoon at the Sports Center of Connecticut. But the Eagles would be denied as junior forward Mallory Jackson's three-point day and late third-period off an offensive zone turnover by Post would prove to be the difference, dropping their 25^th straight game against the Hawks, 4-2.
 
THE BASICS

Post University 2, Saint Anselm College 4

Post University (6-20-0, 6-14-0 NEWHA)

Saint Anselm College (15-9-1, 15-4-1 NEWHA)

HOW IT HAPPENED  
Just a few moments after sophomore goalie Hannah Saunders made a sprawling save in net for Post, Saint Anselm would get on the scoreboard first with some crafty puck movement from senior forward Natalie Tulchinsky and sophomore defenseman Ella Ridge that led to Jackson's glove-side shot that beat Saunders for the early goal.
 
But the response would be swift for the Eagles, scoring two goals in less than a minute to take their first lead of the weekend against the Hawks. The first one would come from freshman forward Macy Peterson after a two-on-one with sophomore forward Tymmarie Grom got into open space and located Peterson for the shot into the left side of the net past junior goalie Annabella Lalande.
 
The second goal would come from junior defenseman Sajel Desai after a faceoff win by freshman defenseman Jodie Rose led to sophomore forward Maddy Noonan locating Desai at the point. The junior's shot would ricochet off a Hawk in front and into the net which put Post ahead by one, 2-1.
 
Rounding out a stretch of three goals in under two minutes between the two teams would be Tulchinsky's equalizing goal from Jackson only 35 seconds after Desai's goal which sent the game into a stalemate of a second period tied at two all. That second period stalemate would see Saunders stop all 17 shots she faced while Lalande matched her with seven saves despite the Hawks getting three power plays and the Eagles getting two in which they would be unable to convert on.

Multiple scoring opportunities would present themselves for both sides in the final period, but both Saunders and Lalande would turn away everything they faced despite extended power-plays for both the Hawks and Eagles. Jackson would break the 2-2 tie with 4:25 left, forcing a turnover on the defensive side and going the full length of the ice to beat Saunders top shelf. Post would have four more shots on Lalande but would be turned away while senior forward Celesta Paolucci solidified the victory for the Hawks, hitting the empty net with 31 seconds to go as Saint Anselm handed Post a 4-2 loss.

BY THE NUMBERS 

• Hannah Saunders nearly broke her season-high of 50 saves in a game which she set on September 24^th, 2023 against Mercyhurst, stopping 48 of 51 shots
• After recording points in four of her first nine collegiate games, Macy Peterson snapped a 16-game stretch without a point after scoring in the first period – It was Peterson's third goal of the season
• With their two first period goals, this was the first time since October 27^th, 2023 in which Post University has scored two-plus goals at home and first time this year they have scored two goals in the opening period
• Post University has lost all 25 head-to-head matchups against Saint Anselm College in program history

WHO'S NEXT
Post University continues their five-game homestand next weekend when they take on Franklin Pierce University on Friday and Saturday at the Sports Center of Connecticut's Upper Rink in Shelton, Connecticut both days. Friday's puck drop will be at 8:15 PM. The Eagles have dropped their last three matchups against the Ravens including two on the road this season by scores of 6-0 and 3-1.