Spring Break
Women's hockey takes split weekend against Division I, III NCAA teams
Anthony ARusso
Issue date: 10/29/08 Section: Sports
10/29/08 - The University of Rhode Island women's hockey team split games last weekend at home against its toughest opponents of the season. The Rams beat NCAA Division III Salve Regina University Friday, then lost to NCAA Division I Sacred Heart University on Saturday.
URI jumped out to a 3-0 lead on Salve Regina and carried its momentum throughout the night en route to a 5-2 victory to start the weekend. Sophomores Amanda Tassoni, Justine Ducie, and Rachel MacDonald and juniors Nicole Ouelette and Jolene Rambone each scored one goal.
"That was a great win for us, considering that they are NCAA," head coach Beth McCann said. McCann also said she was pleased with her team's effort and composure against tough competition.
The Rams were unable to score early against Sacred Heart on Saturday, surrendering the first four goals of the game. After two third period goals from Ducie and senior Kate Garcia, URI faced a 4-2 deficit late in the third, but Sacred Heart was able to hold on and add one more for a 5-2 win.
"Obviously we want to win these games," McCann said, "But it was a respectable effort. This is a big statement for URI and the direction that we want to move in."
McCann said she was especially impressed with the effort of goaltender sophomore Nina Goncarovs, who stopped 27 shots the first game and 39 shots the second. Goncarovs said she was proud to have played competitively against NCAA teams. Goncarovs faced 44 shots in the Sacred Heart game.
"There were not as many rebounds the first game," Goncarovs said. "[Sacred Heart] scored most of their goals on rebounds."
She also said she is looking forward to getting another chance at facing Sacred Heart later in the season. The two teams will meet again in February.
The Rams are now 6-1 overall and 5-0 in the ACHA.
McCann said her team's weaknesses were exposed in the loss, but the Rams have a lot to build on and can continue to improve in all aspects of the game as the season progresses. She said the team has great leadership and a lot of talent.
That talent and leadership shined in the third period of the Sacred Heart game, when, down 4-0, Ducie scored a goal, assisted by freshman Johanna Leskinen, to put the Rams on the board.
That goal sparked a late comeback effort in the final minutes of the third period, but it was too late and the Rams were unable to keep their undefeated streak.
URI jumped out to a 3-0 lead on Salve Regina and carried its momentum throughout the night en route to a 5-2 victory to start the weekend. Sophomores Amanda Tassoni, Justine Ducie, and Rachel MacDonald and juniors Nicole Ouelette and Jolene Rambone each scored one goal.
"That was a great win for us, considering that they are NCAA," head coach Beth McCann said. McCann also said she was pleased with her team's effort and composure against tough competition.
The Rams were unable to score early against Sacred Heart on Saturday, surrendering the first four goals of the game. After two third period goals from Ducie and senior Kate Garcia, URI faced a 4-2 deficit late in the third, but Sacred Heart was able to hold on and add one more for a 5-2 win.
"Obviously we want to win these games," McCann said, "But it was a respectable effort. This is a big statement for URI and the direction that we want to move in."
McCann said she was especially impressed with the effort of goaltender sophomore Nina Goncarovs, who stopped 27 shots the first game and 39 shots the second. Goncarovs said she was proud to have played competitively against NCAA teams. Goncarovs faced 44 shots in the Sacred Heart game.
"There were not as many rebounds the first game," Goncarovs said. "[Sacred Heart] scored most of their goals on rebounds."
She also said she is looking forward to getting another chance at facing Sacred Heart later in the season. The two teams will meet again in February.
The Rams are now 6-1 overall and 5-0 in the ACHA.
McCann said her team's weaknesses were exposed in the loss, but the Rams have a lot to build on and can continue to improve in all aspects of the game as the season progresses. She said the team has great leadership and a lot of talent.
That talent and leadership shined in the third period of the Sacred Heart game, when, down 4-0, Ducie scored a goal, assisted by freshman Johanna Leskinen, to put the Rams on the board.
That goal sparked a late comeback effort in the final minutes of the third period, but it was too late and the Rams were unable to keep their undefeated streak.
