WINCHENDON, Mass. – For the first time in program history, Post University Women's Ice Hockey will head into Game Two of the New England Women's Hockey Alliance Quarterfinals with a 1-0 series lead. Behind a 20-save shutout from junior goalie Hannah Saunders, her seventh of the season, and a third-period goal by junior forward Tristan Currie, the seventh-seeded Eagles pulled off the 1-0 upset win in Friday afternoon's Game One against second-seeded Franklin Pierce University, putting the Ravens on the brink heading into Saturday evening's 7:30 matchup. 

THE BASICS

Post University 1, Franklin Pierce University 0

Post University (12-20-3)

Franklin Pierce University (17-13-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Nine total shots would be taken between the two teams in the opening 20 minutes of the game with Franklin Pierce being responsible for seven of those while Post had just two. The Ravens also dominated in the faceoff circle, winning 12-of-17 draws, but neither team would be able to get on the scoreboard as Saunders stopped all seven shots while junior goalie Jill Hertl did the same with the two shots she faced from the Eagles.

Franklin Pierce did have one power-play attempt in the first period after Saunders tripped freshman forward Brynn Levinson as she looked to make a move on her with 6:17 remaining and was taken out by her stick. However, the Post penalty kill would keep the Ravens from even manufacturing a shot on net during the two-minute infraction. 

While chances would continue to be limited heading into the second, Post's offense would finally start to generate some life against Hertl, starting with their power-play chance following a cross-checking penalty to freshman forward Caleigh Murphy. Two shots would be blocked by the Ravens during that opportunity, but the best chance of the period would come just before the media timeout at the 10-minute mark.

A forced turnover by the Eagle defense led to a 2-on-1 situation spearheaded by senior defenseman Angeline Pitter who had sophomore forward Noa Farberman open to her right. Pitter would fire the shot on Hertl, being denied on the left side of the goal mouth, as both teams headed into the third tied at zero still with a much better second for Post seeing them outshoot the Ravens, 7-6. 

A copious number of turnovers by the Ravens in the third period would eventually lead to the goal that made the difference in Game One as a defensive zone turnover by Murphy found the stick of Currie near the blue line. Making her move around one Raven defender, the junior went bar down unassisted on Hertl with 10:52 left in regulation to give the Eagles all the offense they needed to steal the victory. 

Franklin Pierce would have two power-play opportunities in the third, including one after the Currie goal, but would be unable to manufacture a single shot on either attempt, bringing them to 0-for-3 on the man-up advantage with no shots in those six total penalty minutes. Despite Hertl, who made 16 saves in the loss, being pulled for nearly the final two minutes, the Post defense would block four shots by the Ravens and Saunders would make another two saves to give Post the 1-0 win. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• Only her second goal of the season, Tristan Currie snapped a 14-game scoreless streak with her unassisted goal in the third period to lift Post University to the victory on Friday night 
• Earning her seventh shutout of the season, the ninth of her career, and second in a row, Hannah Saunders made all 20 saves she needed to that she faced from Franklin Pierce University to earn her program-record 10th win of the season in net 
• The Post University penalty kill held the conference's top power-play unit in Franklin Pierce University off the scoreboard on all three of their power-play chances, allowing the Ravens to get no shots on goal against Hannah Saunders in those six total penalty minutes 
• This is the first time in program history in which Post University has won Game One of the NEWHA Quarterfinals to take a 1-0 series lead -- Last season, the Eagles got their first postseason win in program history with a 2-1 win against Saint Anselm College to force a Game 3 

WHO'S NEXT
In search of their first trip to the NEWHA Semifinals in program history, Post University and Franklin Pierce University square off in Game Two of the NEWHA Tournament Quarterfinals in Winchendon, Massachusetts tomorrow evening at 7:30 PM.