SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt.- It was a historic night at Cairns Arena as the Long Island University women's ice hockey team defeated the Saint Michael's Purple Knights, 5-2 for the first win in program history, and the first win in New England Women's Hockey Alliance play!

Kenzie Harmison earned her first collegiate win in net, and finished with 23 saves. Five different Sharks scored in the win. Matilda af Bjur, Elissa Taylor, and Alva Johnsson each scored their first career goals. Paula Bergström scored her second goal in as many games, and Carrigan Umpherville scored her team leading third goal of the season. Umpherville also had two assists to finish with a team-high three points. Taylor, Johnsson, af Bjur, Bergström, Lauren Spino, Morgan Schauer, and Issy Lebrun all finished with an assist.
 
The Sharks took a season-high 31 shots. af Bjur led the way with six shots on goal. Umpherville, Bergström, Schauer, and Julia Hoffmann all finished with three shots on goal, while Taylor, Spino, Abby Latorella, and Saige McKay all had two shots on target. Johnsson, Linn Thomsen and Renee Hoffmann each took a shot on goal.
 
LIU won a season-high 36 faceoffs, and also scored the first power play goal of the season. As a team, the Sharks finished with six blocked shots. The Purple Knights' two goals are the lowest amount of goals allowed this season for the Sharks.
 
It took just two minutes until af Bjur got the Sharks on the board, scoring her first career goal and the Sharks' first power play goal this season. Umpherville extended the lead to two goals just three minutes later, with the assist going to Johnsson and af Bjur. The Purple Knights got on the board and cut the lead in half, capitalizing on a power play of their own to close out the first period.  
 
Bergström netted her second goal this season to put the Sharks back in front by two early in the second period. Taylor would then score her first career goal, giving the Sharks their largest lead of the game. The Purple Knights were able to score a second power play goal, cutting the lead to two once more. This would not last long as Johnsson would give the Sharks another three-goal lead with three minutes left in the second period.
 
The Sharks did not allow the Purple Knights to score for the remainder of the game, finishing the second scoreless period this season.
 
The Sharks return to the ice tomorrow, Saturday November 2, for the second game this weekend against the Purple Knights. Game time at Cairns Arena is slated for 1:00 p.m.