| Prd | Time | Team | Score | Type | Scored By | Assists |
| 2nd | 19:20 | MER | 1-0 | EV GW | Mikyla Grant-Mentis (4) | Felila Manu/6 |
| Scoring | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final |
| Princeton | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merrimack | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Shots on Goal | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | SOG |
| Princeton | 4 | 13 | 14 | 31 |
| Merrimack | 5 | 9 | 4 | 18 |
| Team Stats and Records | PP | PIM | SHGF |
| Princeton (2-6-3) | 0/3 | 4/8 | 0 |
| Merrimack (5-10-3) | 0/4 | 3/6 | 0 |
| Princeton Goaltending | MIN | GA | 1 | 2 | 3 | Saves |
| Alysia DaSilva (L, 1-1-0) | 58:32 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 17 |
| Empty Net | 1:28 | 0 |
| Merrimack Goaltending | MIN | GA | 1 | 2 | 3 | Saves |
| Samantha Ridgewell (W, 2-6-1) | 60:00 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 14 | 31 |
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. - The Merrimack College women's ice hockey team snapped a two-game skid, with a 1-0 victory over Princeton on Friday afternoon in a non-conference battle from Lawler Rink. Junior Samantha Ridgewell (Outlook, Saskatchewan) had 31 saves, picking up her second-career shutout.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 1, Princeton 0 | Final
Records: Merrimack (5-10-3) // Princeton (2-6-3)
Location: Lawler Rink | North Andover, Mass.
Rapid Recap:
- The Tigers jumped out with early pressure on Merrimack in the opening minutes, but Ridgewell kept the visitors off the scoreboard with some great saves.
- Merrimack had a powerplay chance at 9:42 of the first period, but could not find the back of the net. Freshman Kate Bukolska (Prague, Czech Republic) had a great chance to give the Warriors a lead, but lost an edge and fired the puck just over the cross bar with just under eight minutes to go in the opening stanza. The period ended scoreless, with Merrimack unable to capitalize on a pair of powerplay's, but the Warriors outshot Princeton 5-4
- A puck went across the crease of Merrimack, but a Warriors defender was able to lift the stick of the attacking Princeton player to keep the Tigers off the board in the opening minute and a half of the second period. The Warriors had a great chance of their own with under 17 minutes to play in the second. Junior Katelyn Rae (Courtice, Ontario) put a backhanded shot on net, but Alysia DaSilva made the leg save, before covering the puck up.
- Princeton went on the powerplay at 8:50 of the second, but the Warriors penalty kill was up to the challenge, blocking three shots, while Ridgewell made three saves.
- Merrimack finally broke the scoreless tie with 38 seconds left in the second period on a goal by sophomore Mikyla Grant-Mentis (Brampton, Ontario).
- Princeton had a powerplay opportunity midway through the third, but could not find the equalizer. Ridgewell came up with a blocker save with just over nine minutes left in regulation, following a breakaway chance by the Tigers to keep the shutout intact.
- Princeton had a late powerplay with under a minute left, but Ridgewell stopped a pair of shots with under 10 seconds to play to secure the win.
Scoring Summaries
- The Warriors scored with 38 seconds remaining in the second period on a breakaway goal by Grant-Mentis. Following a defensive zone breakout, junior Felila Manu (Anchorage, Alaska) sent the puck up the middle of the ice to the stick of Grant-Mentis. The sophomore skated past a Tigers defender, before making a couple moves to beat DaSilva on the lower part of the net.
Notes and Notables
- Ridgewell stopped 31 shots, picking up her second shutout of the season and of her career.
- Manu picked up her sixth assist of the year, matching a last year's season-high of six points.
- The Warriors blocked 21 shots for the third time this year.
- Goaltenders: W- Samantha Ridgewell (31 Saves, 2-6-1) // L- Alysia DaSilva (17 Saves, 1-1-0)
- Power Plays: Merrimack (0-4) | Princeton (0-3)
- SOG (MC-PU): 5-4| 9-13 | 4-14 | 31-18
Up Next
Merrimack and Princeton play again tomorrow afternoon to wrap up the weekend series at Lawler Rink. Puck drop is scheduled for 4 p.m.