Box Score GORHAM, Maine – Freshman goalie Amanda Fontaine (Northfield, Mass.) stopped 36 shots and sophomore forward Alex Davis (Pembroke, Mass.) had three points to lead the visiting Sacred Heart University Pioneers to a 4-1 non-conference women's ice hockey victory over the University of Southern Maine Huskies Wednesday afternoon at the USM Ice Arena.
The victory extended the Division One independent Pioneers' unbeaten streak to five games (4-0-1) after gaining a tie and win in the two-game series against the Huskies. The Pioneers reached the .500 level for the first time this season with an 8-8-2 overall record. The Huskies slipped to 3-4-4 overall.
Fontaine, making her first collegiate start in goal after one previous relief appearance, surrendered an unassisted goal to USM sophomore Maggie Lane (Burlington, Mass.) at 3:27 of the first period, then shut the door on the Huskies the rest of the way. Fontaine recorded 12 saves in the second period, and 15 more in the final period, to earn her first collegiate win.
Davis scored twice in the third period, the second one into an empty net, and had an assist on what proved to be the game-winning goal in the second period. The two goals give Davis six markers on the season.
After Lane gave the Huskies a 1-0 lead by converting a Pioneer turnover at center ice into a breakaway goal, the Pioneers scored four unanswered goals. Sophomore Casey Stathopoulos (Waltham, Mass.) tied the game midway through the first period potting the rebound of a shot taken by classmate Melissa Robbins (Nashua, N.H.).
Sophomore Natasha Klinoff (Concord, Mass.) scored what proved to be the game winner at 8:42 of the second period lifting a shot into the roof of the goal. Davis and Robbins picked up the assists on the play.
Davis first goal at 9:26 of the third period came when she knocked in the rebound of a shot taken by sophomore Catherine Chittick (Hingham, Mass.). USM rookie netminder Jenn Fuller (Houston, B.C.) stopped Chittick's drive from the left point, but could not control the rebound, which Davis pounced on for the insurance goal.
Davis blasted a slap shot from just outside the Huskies' blue line into the empty net with 31 seconds remaining to finish the scoring. Klinoff and senior Sarah Delaney (Whitman, Mass.) had the assists on the play.
Fuller finished the game with 17 saves before being lifted with 2:22 to go for the extra attacker.
Southern Maine returns to ECAC Women's East play this weekend with a home-and-home series against Plymouth State University. The two teams will meet at USM on Friday (4:00 p.m.) and at PSU on Saturday (2:00 p.m.). Sacred Heart will play in the Rutland (Vt.) Herald Invitational this Friday and Saturday. SHU will take on Holy Cross in the first round.
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