SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. - The Saint Michael's College women's ice hockey team lost a 1-0 decision to Sacred Heart University during the opener of a New England Women's Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) weekend series on Friday evening in Cairns Arena.

RECORDS

• Saint Michael's (1-11-1, 1-9-1 NEWHA), Sacred Heart (7-12-1, 7-6-1 NEWHA)

SAINT MICHAEL'S LEADERS

• Junior Carissa Mudrak (Duluth, Minn./Gentry Academy), 42 saves
• Senior Jenna Harrison (Kitchener, Ontario/Wellesley), 10-for-18 faceoffs
• Junior Jace Zapata (Brea, Calif./Gentry Academy), 3 blocks
• Senior Maeghan Kennard (Hamlin, N.Y./Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles), 6 faceoff wins, 3 blocks

OPPONENT LEADERS

• Sophomore Sydney Antonakis, 1 goal
• Junior Molly Elmore, 12 saves

GAME FACTS

• The Purple Knights played for the first time since Nov. 19.
• Saint Michael's completes a six-game homestand this weekend.
• Each of the Purple and Gold's last seven games was decided by two goals or less.

THE ACTION

• Graduate student Kelly Solak had a good chance early in the first period, taking a giveaway in the left circle before quickly firing a shot into Mudrak with 5:15 gone.
• First-year Elisabeth Gerebi's (Victoria, Minn./Chanhassen) bid from the left circle at 7:56 was denied by Elmore's blocker save.
• Mudrak made another 12 stops in the second period, including denying back-to-back bids out front by seniors Sophie Lupone and Rachel DeLong at 10:49. Antonakis rung the left post from the doorstep at 3:40 before senior Cassandra Nevers followed suit at 14:15 after getting behind the Purple Knight defense.
• Saint Michael's also had a couple good looks off of one-timers during the frame, with Harrison hitting Elmore's pads at 1:20 and sophomore Grace Canterbury (Eagle River, Alaska/Shattuck-Saint Mary's School) stopped out front at 14:57.
• Mudrak kept the game scoreless at 4:45 of the third period with stops of both Solak and sophomore Nicole Bessinger while prone in her crease.
• First-year Olivia LaRoche was turned away by Mudrak on a shot from the left circle a few minutes later, but the rebound found Antonakis, who buried the second chance near the right post at 7:47.
• Canterbury redirected a puck trickling through the crease at 13:51, forcing Elmore into a stop. That proved to be the final shot on net by the hosts, who were unable to gain the zone after pulling Mudrak with 30 seconds remaining.

NEXT SAINT MICHAEL'S GAME

• Saturday vs. Sacred Heart, 4 p.m.
• The Purple Knights host a free youth skating clinic immediately following the game, as supported by Girls 4 Hockey and the national College Hockey for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiative.