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Senior goalie Samantha Ridgewell made 40 stops for the Warriors
Merrimack Skates to 1-1 Tie at Princeton
Senior goalie Samantha Ridgewell made 40 stops for the Warriors

PRINCETON, N.J. - Two goals scored in the final three minutes of regulation led to a wild finish inside Hobey Baker Rink Sunday afternoon, as the Merrimack College women's ice hockey team tied #6 Princeton, 1-1. Freshman Gabby Jones netted her fifth goal of the season with 1:10 left in regulation, as the Warriors improve to 11-6-3 overall and unbeaten against teams outside Hockey East play.

Senior goaltender Samantha Ridgewell had outstanding performance between the pipes, stopping 40 shots in the tie. The Warrior defense stood tall in an effort to help Ridgewell, blocking a season-high 25 shots.

After two periods of clean hockey, Princeton was able to get on the board with a shot from Sarah Fillier. The first goal, coming so late in the game, left little time for the Warriors to recover; however, an extra attacker led to Jones' equalizer with just over a minute to play. Merrimack had an opportunity to steal the game in the opening seconds of overtime with a penalty shot, but Princeton's Rachel McQuigge made the save of the game to keep the game level.


The Basics

Score: Merrimack 1, Princeton 1
Records: Merrimack (11-6-3, 7-6-1 HEA) | Princeton (9-2-4, 8-0-2 ECAC)
Location: Hobey Baker Rink | Princeton, N.J.


Scoring Summaries

Goal #1 (1-0 PRIN) - With just under three minutes left in regulation, the home team struck first, putting all the pressure on Merrimack. Sarah Fillier led a two-on-one break, and kept it herself; the shot rippled the net over the shoulder of Ridgewell, giving Princeton a 1-0 lead with little time for anything else to happen.

Goal #2 (1-1) - 45 seconds after the game's first tally, Merrimack found itself with an extra attacker, looking for a goal to send the game to overtime. Ridgewell's absence in net led to an equalizer; Jones' first shot of the third period gave Merrimack its first goal of the game, tying things up with 1:10 left in regulation.


Notes and Numbers

- In the three meetings between the two teams, Merrimack has yet to lose; the Warriors took both contests at home last season.

- Cook leads all Merrimack freshman in scoring with five goals and six assists.

- The Warriors are 4-0-2 against teams outside Hockey East this season.

- Goaltenders: Samantha Ridgewell (40 saves, 10-5-3) // Rachel McQuigge (23 saves, 9-2-4)

- Power Plays: 0-0 // 0-2

- Shots on Goal: 6-15 // 7-13 // 9-8 // 2-5 - 24-41


Up Next

Merrimack finishes up its 2018-19 non-conference slate with an afternoon matchup against Princeton; puck-drop inside Hobey Baker Rink is set for 3 p.m.

Game Summary

Sunday, December 30, 2018

1
1
Game statistics
24 Shots 41
0 / 0 Power Plays 0 / 2
2 / 4 PIM 1 / 2
11-6-3 Records 9-2-4
GOAL SCORERS
Merrimack Princeton
Sarah Fillier (5)
3rd/17:03
Gabby Jones (5)
3rd/18:50  EA GT
GOALTENDERS
Merrimack Princeton
Samantha Ridgewell
64:39, 40 Saves, 1 GA
(T, 10-5-3)

Empty Net
0:21, 0 GA
Rachel McQuigge
65:00, 23 Saves, 1 GA
(T, 6-2-4)