MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Another night, another shutout win for the Wesleyan women's hockey team as the Cardinals dispatched Salve Regina, 2-0, on Sunday night from the Spurrier-Snyder Rink. This marks the second Cardinal victory over the Seahawks (1-7) this week as Wesleyan (5-0) defeated Salve 3-1 in Rhode Island on Tuesday night. Tonight's win matches the Cardinals' best start to a season in program history as the only other time Wesleyan started 5-0 was back in 1998-99.
Just one night removed from what was her first career shutout,
Rei Halloran '23 followed her 17-save effort in Saturday's 4-0 win over Post with a 19-save shutout win over Salve. This marks the first time a Wesleyan goaltender has recorded back-to-back shutouts since
Allegra Grant '20 did so in wins over Nichols and Colby in the 2016-17 season.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- In a game that featured just two goals scored, they both came without just a 2:32 minute span of one another in the first period as Wesleyan grabbed the early 1-0 lead off the stick of Rachel Ziff '23. After winning a face-off in offensive zone, Bridget Cornell '23 spotted Brigitte Goeler-Slough '23 open in the middle. The junior center laid a pass off for Ziff at the point who wound up and beat the Seahawk goalie Madison Jalbert low to make it 1-0 Cardinals. That was the first career goal for Ziff.
- Just over two minutes later, the Cardinals struck again as Effie Tournas '25 fed Cornell at the point who had her shot on-goal saved initially by Jalbert but the rebound was left out in front. Audrey McMahon '22 was in the right place at the right time as the senior wristed home the goal on a wide open net as suddenly a scoreless game became a 2-0 Cardinal advantage.
- After a Wesleyan barrage of shots in the opening period (12-3 in favor of the Cardinals), Salve came into their own in the next two frames as the Seahawks put 16 shots on-goal compared to 13 for Wesleyan but none of them got through Halloran. The Seahawks had three power play opportunities in the second period alone, firing five combined shots on-goal, all of which were turned aside by the junior Cardinal goaltender.
- Wesleyan had three power play chances of their own between the second and third periods but all of which resulted in no insurance goals.
- Salve had one great last gasp attempt to pull back to within one as their fourth power play of the night midway through the third period generated four shots on-goal (five total attempts) but Halloran continued to stand on her head and deny the Seahawks.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Ziff became the 12th different Cardinal to score a goal this season as Wesleyan has now outscored their five opponents 17-7 through five games.
- McMahon has registered a point in all four games she has played so far this season. She has three goals and three assists for six points in 2021-22.
- Cornell finishes a big weekend with two assists, combined with her goal on Saturday against Post, she posted three points in two Wesleyan victories
- Goeler-Slough came into this weekend without no career points and after her first two career assists on Saturday against Post, she picked up another tonight to now give her three on the season
- Jenna Stevens '24 posted four of Wesleyan's 10 total blocked shots on the night
- The Cardinals outshot the Seahawks 27-19 in shots on-goal and 51-39 in attempted shots
- McMahon dominated from the face-off circle all night, going for 12 wins and just two losses
UP NEXT:
The Cardinals have one remaining game before winter break as Wesleyan will enjoy next weekend off before heading to Manhattanville on Saturday, December 11 for a 2 PM start.
