Women's Hockey Return from Layoff with 4-1 Win Over Hilbert College

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – The MCLA Women's Ice Hockey team returned to action following their winter break with a non-conference game at Hilbert College this evening at the Amherst Northtown Center. The Trailblazers started the second half of the season on a high note, with four players finding the back of the net in a 4-1 victory.

THE BASICS:

• Date: Friday, January 12, 2024
• Score: MCLA 4, Hilbert 1
• Records: MCLA Trailblazers 4-10-0 (ECHA 0-4-0) | Hilbert College Hawks 1-10-0 (Unaffiliated)

HIGHLIGHTS

• MCLA wasted little time with getting on the scoreboard when Carlen Bertrand skated out of a scrum along the sideboards with the puck, fired a shot off the goalie, collected her own rebound, and backhanded another shot that was knocked away. Undeterred, Bertrand collected the rebound again, skated around the back of the net, and released a point-blank shot into the top of the net as four Hawks defenders and the goalie looked on. The goal came only 39 seconds into the game, setting the tone for the game. Becky Ade and Alexandrea Bednar were credited with assists on the goal. The goal was Bertrand's fourth of the season, while the assists were Ade and Bednar's third and sixth, respectively.
• A little less than 12 minutes later, MCLA doubled their lead when Bednar knocked the puck off the stick of a Hilbert skater going through the neutral zone. She then barreled in on the goalie before lifting the puck over the netminder, off the crossbar, and into the net for her fourth goal of the year.
• The Trailblazers weren't done with their first-period offensive and added another goal with just under three minutes remaining in the opening frame. Paige Pouliot started the scoring sequence by knocking the puck to Bertrand, who skated in with the puck and got off a shot that the goalie pushed aside to the boards. Bertrand then battled a Hawks defender along the boards before leaving the puck behind for Belle Wurmser to collect. Wurmser split two defenders and lifted the puck over the goalie's shoulder for a 3-0 lead. The goal for Wurmser and the assist for Bertrand each marked their third of the season, while the assist was the career first for Pouliot.
• After a scoreless second period, the teams traded goals in the final frame. Hilbert finally solved the puzzle of MCLA goalie Juliette Barney with just over five minutes left in regulation. The goal was credited to Megan Moceri, who was assisted by Anna Faulkner.
• Barely 90 seconds later, the Trailblazers pushed their lead back to three as Milena Monell scored her first collegiate goal with an assist from Wurmser, her fourth.
• Barney made 38 saves and picked up the win for MCLA, improving her record to 3-4-0. Tia Card took the loss for Hilbert, dropping to 1-7-0 despite stopping 41 of the 45 shots she faced.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Shots: MCLA 45, Hilbert 39
• Saves: MCLA 38, Hilbert 41
• Faceoffs Won: MCLA 26, Hilbert 39
• Penalty/Minutes: MCLA 1/2:00, Hilbert 3/6:00
• Power Plays: MCLA 0 for 3, Hilbert 0 for 1

UP NEXT:

The game on Saturday at Hilbert has been canceled, so MCLA will be back in action on Tuesday when they travel down Route 2 for a non-conference matchup with the Williams College Ephs at the Lansing Chapman Rink. The puck will drop at 6 p.m.

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