SHELTON, Conn. -- Sophomore forward Brooke Larsen's first collegiate goal could not have come at a better time for Post University Women's Ice Hockey as her first-period lamp lighter was the lone score of their season finale on Senior Day at the Sports Center of Connecticut in a 1-0 win for the Eagles against Sacred Heart University. Junior goalie Hannah Saunders picked up her program-record sixth shutout of the season after making 27 saves in net while senior forward Julia Wysocki became the single-season points record holder for the time being with the assist on Larsen's goal. 


THE BASICS

Post University 1, Sacred Heart University 0

Post University (11-20-3, 11-14-3 NEWHA)

Sacred Heart University (17-14-3, 16-9-3 NEWHA)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Like the night before, offense would come at a premium for the Eagles against the Pioneer defense, putting up just eight total shots in the first period while only five reached senior goalie Carly Greene in net. However, five shots would be enough to get one past Greene and give Post the lead as sophomore defenseman Brooke Larsen wound up a shot from the point with the help of freshman defenseman Caryss Kehl and Wysocki for the score.

The goal for Larsen was the first of her college career while Wysocki, for the time being, became the single-season point record holder after being credited with the assist. The senior passed Jenna Abeyta's 2019-20 record of 25 points but may not hold it come the end of the season. As it stands heading into the NEWHA Tournament, freshman forward Rowyn Ringor has 25 points keeping the line duo neck-and-neck for the title. 

Post's offense would only generate 20 total shots against Greene in the entire game in which the senior would make 19 saves and allow only that first-period goal. Sacred Heart's offense would not have much more luck despite manufacturing 27 shots against Saunders in net as the Pioneers were held to only five second-period shots before an explosive third period saw them rifle off 13 shots against the junior. 

In all, Sacred Heart had six power-play chances, including three in the third period, but finished the day 0-for-6 on the man advantage while only getting off four shots in the process. The Pioneers would all but end their chance at tying the game up at the end of regulation as back-to-back penalties to senior forward Kate Helgeson for slashing and junior forward Kailey Smith only 1:22 later for tripping would give the Eagles a 5-on-3 advantage.

Greene would not be pulled in the final few minutes of regulation due to those penalties as Post maintained puck possession throughout the final three minutes to come away with the 1-0 shutout win to end the regular season with momentum heading into the NEWHA Tournament next week. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• Scoring the lone goal of the game, Brooke Larsen had her first collegiate goal for Post University in the first period after 66 games played over her first two seasons
• Earning her sixth shutout of the season and ninth of her career, Hannah Saunders made all 27 saves she needed to that she faced from Sacred Heart University 
• For the time being, Julia Wysocki sits as the program's all-time leader in single-season points after her assist today brought her to 26 points, surpassing Jenna Abeyta's 2019-20 record of 25 points and is now the program's all-time leader in assists with 22 which also surpasses Abeyta – Rowyn Ringor currently sits at 25 points still after today's game, keeping the two neck-and-neck for the single-season crown 
• Since their matchup on January 20th, 2023, six of the last 11 games in the all-time series have been decided by one goal with two others being ties -- This is the first time that Post University has shut out Sacred Heart University twice in the same season 

WHO'S NEXT
Post University will await the final seeding for the 2025 NEWHA Tournament which will kick off next Friday in a best-of-three quarterfinals series.