BROOKVILLE, N.Y.- On the heels of concluding the inaugural regular season, the Long Island University women's ice hockey team is gearing up for its first ever post season appearance as the Sharks take on Saint Michael's in the New England Women's Hockey Alliance First Round game on Wednesday, February 19 at 1:05 pm at Iceworks in Syosset.
LIU vs. Saint Michael's
Wednesday, February 19 | 1:05 p.m.
Iceworks | Syosset, N.Y.
Watch Live |
Stats
NEWHA Tournament
Sacred Heart University won the NEWHA regular season, clinched the No. 1 seed, and has a first round bye to the semifinals. Franklin Pierce earned the No. 2 seed, and also has a bye to the semifinals. Saint Anselm finished the regular season as the No. 3 seed, just one point ahead of LIU who is the No. 4 seed. Saint Michael's is the No. 5 seed, and Post rounds out the bracket as the No. 6 seed. After the first round games, which take place at the third and fourth seed, the semifinals and finals will be held at Sullivan Arena on the campus of Saint Anselm on Saturday, February 22 and Sunday, February 23.
Notes on the Sharks
The Sharks ended the regular season on a high note, with a 4-2 win over Saint Anselm, and look to carry that momentum with them into the playoffs. After dropping the first game of the weekend against the Hawks, the Sharks bounced back and had a come-from-behind win to close out the inaugural regular season.
Kenzie Harmison earned the start in net for both games last weekend for the Sharks. Between the two games, she made 69 saves. On Friday, she made 36 saves, which was just two away from matching her career high. Harmison earned NEWHA Defensive Player of the Week honors after her performance last weekend against the Hawks. On Saturday,
Megan Bouveur opened the scoreless game late in the first to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead. After the Hawks took the lead, behind two power play goals,
Carrigan Umpherville would score two power play goals of her own to tie the game and give the Sharks the lead halfway through the third period.
Alva Johnsson sealed the victory, scoring an empty net goal in the final minute of the game. Umpherville leads the team with 17 goals and also has 11 assists for team-best 28 points. Johnsson is right behind her with 11 goals on the year.
Matilda af Bjur leads the team with 14 assists. She also has scored nine goals and is second on the team with 23 points.
Abby Latorella has 10 goals and 10 assists on the year. Bouveur also has nine goals and is tied for second on the team with
Paula Bergström with 12 assists. Harmison has 296 saves this year and a .925 save percentage.
Mia McLeod has 494 saves and a .910 save percentage this season.
Scouting the Purple Knights
The No. 4 seed, Saint Michael's Purple Knights, closed out the regular season falling twice to the NEWHA regular season champions Sacred Heart. In a 4-1 loss against the Pioneers on Saturday, Krista Ferrari scored the lone goal for the Purple Knights. Alissa Sullivan assisted Ferrari's goal while Vika Simons made 44 saves in net. Jordan Monbouquette leads the team with 11 assists and 14 points. Maeghan Kennard has a team-high nine goals, with four of them coming on the power play. Simons has 999 saves this season which is a new Purple Knights' program record, and a .923 save percentage. Her 999 saves is the most among all divisions, men's and women's ice hockey this season.
Up Next
The winner of the first round match will move on to face either Sacred Heart or Franklin Pierce in the NEWHA semifinals, which will be held on Saturday, February 22 at Sullivan Arena in Manchester, N.H.
