Women's hockey splits contests against UMass

02/05/09 - The University of Rhode Island women's hockey team took on the University of Massachusetts at the Boss Ice Arena Friday and Saturday, salvaging a split after ending game one in a 3-3 tie and taking game two, 6-1.Rhody came into the game ranked No. 1 in the American Collegiate Hockey Association national rankings and UMass came in sporting at No. 3.

In game one, the Rams' goalkeeper Nina Goncarovs turned away 27 shots and allowed three goals.

UMass' Cara Murphy started the scoring in the first period when she found the back of the net at 4:30 by sneaking the puck by Goncarovs.

Rhody rebounded in period two by scoring back-to-back goals, one by senior Ashley Pagliarini and another by team scoring leader, junior Jolene Rambone. Rambone is currently ranked fourth in the ACHA in points and goals.

UMass struck back less than 40 seconds later to tie the game on a goal by Betsy Riegel at 14:12.

In period three, both teams traded goals to keep the tie intact.

Rambone added her second goal of the night and UMass' Callie Rose scored on a power play to make it 3-3 which forced overtime.

In the extra frame, neither team could score the go-ahead goal as the game ended in a tie.

"We weren't as focused as we should have been in game one," head Coach Beth McCann said. "Offense wins games and we just didn't have it."

For game two, McCann switched up some of the team's lineup and said her team came out looking much more energized than the night before.

Minutemen forward Maura Grainger was the lone player to score in the opening period, beating Goncarovs for the first and only time during the game.

Skating into period two down one goal, Rhody responded with a relentless barrage of shots, scoring on UMass goaltender Christen Eulian four times to blow the game wide open.

Junior Nicole Ouellette opened the scoring for the Rams, beating Eulian with a wrist shot at 16:43.

Senior Kate Garcia added another goal to put Rhody ahead, 2-1. Junior Jennifer Bragger followed up that goal shortly after to give the Rams momentum with a two-goal lead.

Rambone padded her stats with a shorthanded goal, her third in two days, to put URI up by three.

Sophomore Justine Ducie joined in on the scoring during period three as she beat Eulian early in the frame.

Bragger added her second goal of the night to cap off the scoring and secure the 6-1 victory for Rhody.

Goncarovs turned away 18 shots in goal for Rhode Island and Eulian turned away 36 despite allowing six goals.

"They're one of the superior teams in the country," McCann said in reference to UMass. "We made a statement saying that we are much better than our wins and losses say we are."

After the weekend series, Rhode Island fell to No. 3 in the country, while UMass fell to No. 4.

Familiar foe Lindenwood University sits atop the rankings with Michigan State University right behind them.

"We have one of the best teams URI women's hockey has ever had this year and we want to prove it," McCann said.

The Rams will host Liberty University tomorrow night at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 12:30 p.m.