Box Score Byron Center, Mich. — The Aquinas women's ice hockey team laced their skates this evening (Dec. 1) for game one of a two game series with the #10 UM-Dearborn Wolverines. The visitors of Dearborn went on to strike first and continued to strike throughout the contest. The Saints found answers in the second period but not enough of them. UM-Dearborn takes the game 8-2.
The first period saw a Wolverine sided opener but the Saints held the visitors at bay for much of the first. But Aquinas went on to get a penalty call, giving the Wolverines a glimmer of hope for a power play goal with just under nine minutes remaining in the first period. As UM-Dearborn seemed to already have a play in mind as they headed for the face-off. And with three touches and a flick the Wolverines pierced the back of the net just a mere nine seconds into the power play.
Aquinas returned to full strength and once again held the visitors at bay. But the Wolverines found a gap and tallied another goal with just over four minutes remaining. The remainder of the period went scoreless.
Opening the second period AQ knew they needed to get some momentum flowing, while the Wolverines wanted to keep theirs pumping. The visitors went on to do just that as they found the back of the net just one minute into the second period. Aquinas found their first answer with a goal from
Reyna Dominczak assisted by
Alyssa Exline. Putting the Saints on the board and placing the game at 3-1.
But Aquinas's rejoicing was short lived as the Wolverines continued to dig in and strike again three minutes after the Saints. The visitors added a few exclamation marks as they went on to score two more times before AQ managed an answer.
Kylie Rancilio collected a combination pass from
Lauryn Wood and
Alyssa Exline and shot from a distance. Rancilio's shot screamed by the keeper and landed in the upper left corner of the net for a second Aquinas goal. As the time winded down Aquinas was hoping to leave the ice with the last goal of the period. But UM-Dearborn found another power play goal with just 16 seconds remaining.
The Wolverines found the back of the net five times this period, three of which were from power plays.
In the final period of play, the visitors from Dearborn would strike again just about midway through the period. The remainder of the game saw no goals. The Saints take the loss in the first game of the series with UM-Dearborn 8-2. Four of the goals for the Wolverines were from power plays. Aquinas totaled 20 shots on goal, while the visitors from Dearborn had 60.
The Saints are back in action tomorrow (Dec. 2) for the second game of their series with #10 UM-Dearborn. The puck will drop at 7 p.m. at the UM-Dearborn Ice Arena.
