The St.Lawrence women's hockey team (24-7-1, 15-3-0 ECAC) became co-champions of the ECAC with a 9-1 win over the Union Dutchwomen (4-29-1, 1-17-0 ECAC) Saturday afternoon. The Saints will share the league title with the Harvard Crimson. St.Lawrence moves onto the ECAC Playoffs next weekend where they will be seeded No.2. Since Harvard swept St.Lawrence during the regular season, the Crimson earn the No.1 seed. The Saints will host the No.7 Colgate Raiders at Appleton Arena for a best-of-three ECAC Quarterfinals series.
The Saints special teams unit was in top form this afternoon. St.Lawrence scored five short-handed goals, a new school record, and three power-play goals. The Saints 11 short-handed goals this season also sets a new school record. St.Lawrence tied the record for wins in a season with 24 this afternoon. Senior goalie Rachel Barrie tied the record for wins in a season with 21. Senior forward Gina Kingsbury broke the record for most points in a career when she assisted on Kate Michael's power-goal in the first period. Kingsbury now has 144 points in 105 games for the Saints. Junior forward Rebecca Russell scored the game-winner at 15:12 in the first, giving her 99 career points. With her next point, she will become the seventh player in Saints Division I history to record 100 points.
Junior Whitney Carbone put the Saints up 3-0 in the first. Freshman Chelsea Grills notched a short-handed goal to put the Saints on top 4-0. The Dutchwomen finally ended their scoring draught with a power-play goal 51 seconds into the third period. Grills notched her second of the day five minutes later. Junior Christin Powers put the Saints on top 6-1 with a short-handed goal at 7:10. At 8:48, senior Rickie-Lee Doyle got in on the action, putting away a short-handed goal. Freshman Kim Kodatsky scored the only even-strength goal at 12:45 and Doyle added her second goal of the game to round out the scoring at 17:38 in the third.
All three Saints goalies saw action between the pipes, each playing a period. Barrie made just 4 saves in the first to earn the win. Junior Lea Armendariz stopped 2 shots in the second and freshman Kaitlin Branon made 2 saves in the third. Union goalie Lauren Carlson stopped 38 of 47 shots in net for the Dutchwomen. The Saints will return to action on Friday night as they host the Colgate Raiders in the ECAC Quarterfinals. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. Friday night at Appleton Arena.
