FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Sophomore forward Noa Farberman scored the lone goal in a four-round shootout for Post University Women's Ice Hockey as the Eagles went the distance against Sacred Heart University in their final game before the winter break to the tune of a 1-1 tie and 1-0 win in a shootout. The victory marks the first time in program history in which Post has swept the Pioneers in a weekend as well as the first time they have won in a shootout. 

THE BASICS

Post University 1, Sacred Heart University 1 (1-0 Win in Shootout)

Post University (4-12-3, 4-8-3 NEWHA)

Sacred Heart University (11-7-1, 10-3-1 NEWHA)

HOW IT HAPPENED
A sluggish start for both teams saw both goalies not have to make any tough saves in what would be a scoreless first period. In all, the Eagles generated four shots against sophomore goalie Lauren Larson while the Pioneers had eight shots against junior goalie Hannah Saunders in the same span. In overall shots, Sacred Heart held a slight 14-10 edge, four of which the Post defense were able to block out of the zone. 

The Pioneers would head into the second period with 43 seconds left on a power play after junior forward Tristan Currie was called for a trip towards the end of the frame. However, nothing would come of the opportunity nor the next one that would come on freshman forward Rowyn Ringor's cross-checking penalty just under five minutes after the second began. 

Although opportunities were far and few early on for the Eagles, senior forward Julia Wysocki would help them cash in just over the eight-minute mark when a neutral zone turnover found the stick of sophomore forward Celena Mickevicius. Her pass to Wysocki in a lane down the center of the ice led to the senior's goal off her backhand over the shoulder of Larson to give Post a 1-0 lead. 

While the Eagles did have a couple of power-play opportunities of their own in the session, they would be unable to capitalize and increase their lead despite outshooting the Pioneers 19-11 overall and 12-6 in shots on goal, carrying the 1-0 lead into the third as well as 59 seconds on freshman defenseman Caryss Kehl's body checking penalty. 

 Although the Kehl penalty would come and go without Sacred Heart being able to tie things up, but an interference call against her just over halfway through the period would give the Pioneers their chance to score again which they would take advantage of. After an initial save by Saunders, the loose puck found freshman forward Ella Holm's stick for the equalizer which would eventually lead to overtime. 

Although the Eagles had multiple power plays in the third period and forced Larson to make a couple of breakaway saves in the five-minute overtime, neither goaltender would budge leading to a three-round shootout, the third of the season for Post.

Both sides would be unable to crack the opposition until round four when Farberman went five-hole on the left side of the goal mouth against Larson before Saunders shut down graduate forward Paige McNeil on the right side of the crease, sealing the 1-0 shootout victory for the Eagles. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• Hannah Saunders made 30 saves on 31 attempts, while stopping all four shootout shots in addition to her 46 saves yesterday for a combined 76 saves across the weekend for Post University 
• Julia Wysocki scored her 20th collegiate goal this evening in the second period and now is tied for the team lead in goals scored with Rowyn Ringor 
• With the win over Sacred Heart University, this is the first time in program history in which Post University has swept the Pioneers during a two-game weekend series 
• This is the first time in which Post University has won in a shootout in program history both all time and against Sacred Heart University 

WHO'S NEXT
Post University will have the rest of the month off before returning on January 3rd, 2025, for the first of six straight home games, starting with their final two non-conference games against RIT which will kick off that Friday at 8:00 PM in the Sports Center of Connecticut. This will be the first matchup between the two teams in program history.